the history of the vitamins
In the early 20th century the discovery
of vitamins began. Today there is a
chance that there are some vitamins that are still undiscovered. The definition of vitamin is: one of several
substances necessary for animal nutrition, and occurring in minute quantities
in natural foods; numerous types have been distinguished, and designated by the
letters of the alphabet. Each and every
living animal needs vitamins to grow and be healthy.
Since the human body can t produce
vitamins naturally or normally produce the amounts needed, food provides the
body with them. There are different
vitamins found in different foods. These
vitamins give vital nutrients to an animal.
In 1906, the British biochemist Sir.
Frederick Hopkins demonstrated that foods contain accessory factors in addition to proteins, carbohydrates, fats,
minerals and water. Then, in 1912, thee
chemist Casimir Funk identified that the
antiberiberi
substance in unpolished rice was an amine (a type of
Nitrogen-containing
compound), so Funk proposed that it be named vitamine, from vital amine.
It was later discovered that different vitamins have different chemical
properties. This discovery caused
vitamine to be turned into vitamin.
In 1912 Hopkins and Funk made a
hypothesis. The hypothesis stated the
absence of some vitamins could cause diseases such as beriberi and scurvy. Later a letter was assigned to each vitamin. The letters which were assigned to vitamins
in the early years of vitamin research categorize them according to their
functions. As research progressed, the
vitamins were given scientific names.
Foods that contain vitamins are very essential
for good health and growth. Milk can be
important because it is a source of vitamin D.
Vitamin D is important because it is essential for bone growth.
Butter can be important because it is a
source of Vitamin A. The pigments that
are converted into Vitamin A, are found in most fruits and vegetables. Vitamin A is important because it can prevent
diseases.
Cereal and seeds can de important
because of its source of Vitamin B.
Vitamin B is important because of their source of Vitamin B. Vitamin B is important because it can prevent
beriberi.
Citrus Fruits can be important because
of their source of vitamin C. Vitamin C
is important for strength and metabolism.
Plants can be important because of the
plant oil which is a source of
Vitamin E. Vitamin e is important because it is a source
of oxidation in body tissues.
These examples prove that the
distribution of vitamins in natural sources is uneven. Take vitamin D for example. It is produced only by animals, where as some
other vitamins may only be found in plants.
Vitamins can be synthetically produced or found naturally, but there is
no proof that either natural or synthetic vitamins are superior to one another.
There are two categories of vitamins
needed in the human body. The first are
water-soluble vitamins, like B and C.
The second category is fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E,
and K. Water-soluble vitamins are
absorbed by the intestine. Once the
intestine absorbs them, the circulatory system carries them to certain tissues.
Fat-soluble vitamins are also absorbed
by the intestine, and the lymph system carries the vitamins to the various
parts of the body. These vitamins are
responsible for maintaining the structure of the cell membranes.
Don t think that you can have as many
vitamins as you want. If too many
vitamins are taken into the body, the vitamin levels in the body become toxic.
Since the body can t produce the
essential amounts of vitamins, there must be a certain requirement of intake of
vitamins and vitamin supplements. These
requirements are known as the recommended daily allowance, or RDA. If these requirements aren t met, you can
become a very unhealthy person. The food
and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Science/National Research
Council in the United States establishes these RDA s. For different worldwide population groups two
agencies of the United Nation, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the
World Health Organization have developed RDA s.
It is wise to follow the RDA. Without correct interpretation of the RDA, a
person could take too many or take too few vitamins. This proves that vitamins can be beneficial
of harmful depending on the usage.
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