The role different vitamins play
Caribbean Life, D 24 ECEMBER 18-24, 2020 BQ
A nutritious diet is a vital component
of a healthy lifestyle. When
it’s part of a health regimen that
includes routine exercise, a healthy
diet that’s rich in fruits and vegetables
can help people reduce their risk for
various illnesses, including chronic
diseases like heart disease, cancer and
diabetes.
Many adults have known about the
value of fruits and vegetables since
they were youngsters and their parents
repeatedly told them how important it
was to eat healthy foods. Despite those
early lessons, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention reports that
less than 10 percent of adults and adolescents
eat enough fruits and vegetables.
That’s unfortunate, as fruits and
vegetables are loaded with vitamins
that benefi t the body in myriad ways.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine
notes that vitamin defi ciency occurs
when people do not get enough
of certain vitamins. Recognizing the
many functions vitamins serve may
compel adults and adolescents to include
more fruits and vegetables in
their diets.
• Vitamin A: The USNLM notes
that vitamin A helps form and maintain
healthy teeth, bones, soft tissue,
mucous membranes, and skin. According
to the World Health Organization,
vitamin A defi ciency is the leading
cause of preventable blindness in children
and increases the risk of disease
and death from severe infections.
• Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 helps
form red blood cells and maintain
brain function. Though the National
Institutes of Health notes that isolated
vitamin B6 defi ciency is uncommon,
a defi ciency has been associated with
various conditions, including a weakened
immune system and dermatitis
cheilitis, a condition marked by scaling
on the lips and cracks at the corners
of the mouth.
• Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an antioxidant
that promotes healthy teeth
and gums, helps the body absorb iron
and maintains healthy tissue. In addition,
vitamin C plays an integral role
in helping wounds heal. Vitamin C defi
ciency impairs bone function, and
Merck notes that in children that impairment
can cause bone lesions and
contribute to poor bone growth.
• Vitamin D: The USNLM notes
that 10 to 15 minutes of sunshine three
times per week is enough to produce
the body’s vitamin D requirement for
people at most latitudes. It’s hard to
rely on food to supply ample vitamin
D, which helps the body absorb calcium
that is necessary for the development
and maintenance of healthy
teeth and bones.
• Vitamin E: Vitamin E helps the
body form red blood cells and utilize
vitamin K. Green, leafy vegetables like
spinach and broccoli are good sources
of vitamin E. The Offi ce of Dietary
Supplements notes that a vitamin E
defi ciency can cause nerve and muscle
damage, potentially leading to muscle
weakness and vision problems.
• Vitamin K: Vitamin K helps to
make certain proteins that are needed
for blood clotting and the building of
bones. The T.H. Chan School of Public
Health at Harvard notes that the main
type of vitamin K is found in green
leafy vegetables like collard greens,
kale and spinach. Vitamin K defi -
ciency is rare, but it can lead to bleeding,
hemorrhaging or osteoporosis.
Vitamins are crucial to human
beings’ overall health. Eating ample
amounts of fruits and vegetables is a
great and delicious way to avoid vitamin
defi ciency
— Metro Creative Connection
Recognizing the many functions vitamins serve may compel adults and adolescents to include
more fruits and vegetables in their diets. Metro Creative Connection
Health