What are vitamins and why do we need them?

Vitamins are molecules that help regulate chemical reactions in our bodies and help us use energy from macronutrients

How much of each vitamin do we need?

It depends on your body and your specific needs

The water-soluble vitamins

• Vitamin C

  • Found in Citrus fruits

  • Helps heal wounds

• The B Vitamin

  • Found in breads, grains, and meats

  • Helps release energy from foods

• Consume the water-soluble vitamins on a daily basis since they are not stored in our bodies

  • Basically… you will pee them out so take them daily

The Fat-soluble vitamins - Don’t need to consume fat-soluble vitamins as often because they are stored in the fat in our bodies

• Vitamin A

  • Found in dark green, yellow, and orange fruits and vegetables

  • Maintaining healthy skin and eyesight

• Vitamin D

  • Found in Milk, egg yolks, cereal, salmon, sunlight

  • It helps maintain healthy bones and teeth and helps calcium absorb in body

• Vitamin E

  • Found in leafy green veggies, avocado, vegetable oils

  • protects red blood cells and other cells from damage

    • protects you from things like cancer

• Vitamin K

  • Found in spinach, lettuce, meat, dairy

  • Helps blood clot and proteins form

    • Helps wounds to heal

Can a high dose of Vitamins be fatal

Yesss!!!

Vitamin Deficiencies

1. What happens if you did not consume enough Vitamin A?

   1. Lose vision ( go blind ), skin not as healthy

2. What would happen if you didn’t consume enough Vitamin B?

   1. The body will not be able to get energy from the foods you eat

3. What would happen if you didn’t consume enough Vitamin C?

   1. Wounds would not heal. Infections and bleeding. Scurvy

4. What would happen if you did not consume enough Vitamin D?

   1. Weak/brittle teeth and bones ( osteoporosis )

5. What would happen if you didn’t consume enough Vitamin E?

   1. Red blood cells would be damaged, other vitamins would not function

   2. Other problems would arise

   3. What would happen if you didn’t consume enough Vitamin B?

      1. Blood would not clot ( can’t stop bleeding )

      2. Can’t make proteins