We always hear the health gurus of the world talking about the vitamins and minerals we need. Now, we can get drinks, food, and even tablets filled to the brim with the good stuff. But do we really need to enjoy something starting with every letter of the alphabet? Thankfully, here are the most essential vitamins your body needs to get the most out of life without going mad.
Vitamin C
Although there are a whole host of vitamins in the world, chances are you’ve heard of vitamin C. But why is it essential for our body? This vitamin helps us to absorb iron, as well as making sure our blood vessels remain strong, and helping to keep our skin nice and elastic. Thankfully, this vitamin is found in a whole host of foods, such as oranges, kiwis, green and red peppers, guava, grapefruits, and brussel sprouts. Fruit salad, anyone?
Calcium
Our body would be nothing without a strong skeleton, and calcium is essential if we want to keep our bones healthy. That’s not all; this vitamin is also vital for maintaining healthy teeth. The best places to find calcium is in dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt. However, you can also get a calcium kick from foods like cabbage, broccoli, canned fish, and tofu. If you have a sweet tooth, you might be happy to hear that chocolate milk counts, too. In moderation, of course.
Vitamin A
Carrots: although you might not get superpowers from the vegetable, there might have been some truth in it all. Carrots are packed full of vitamin A which is essential for maintaining healthy eyes, as well as growing bodies, and keeping healthy skin and teeth. Other great sources are any orange foods, such as cantaloupe melons and sweet potatoes.
Folic acid
This isn’t just a vitamin for pregnant women; folic acid is also essential for our body as it helps renew cells. However, it’s important expecting mothers have enough folic acid to prevent any congenital disabilities, such as issues with the baby’s spine. Natural sources of the vitamin can be found in most dark, leafy greens, nuts, citrus fruits, corn, lentils, seeds, and peas. It looks as though there is no end to the source of folic acid in nature!
Vitamin D
Once again, we have a vitamin that is essential for maintaining healthy bones. However, we don’t necessarily have to worry about adding anything to our diet to get our dose of vitamin D. All it takes is around 10 minutes in the sun two or three days a week to make sure our body is getting what it needs. If the sun is hiding its face, vitamin D can also be found in mushrooms, fish, and eggs.
B vitamins
Perhaps you find yourself lacking energy in the day? Maybe you seem to be the one that always catches a cold? It might not be down to bad luck and lack of sleep; it could also be a B vitamins deficiency. These vitamins are crucial for iron absorption, as well as helping our immune system, and producing energy. We’d be nowhere without them! The best places to get your daily dose of B vitamins are in lentils, bananas, potatoes, whole grains, and even chili peppers.
There might be a lot of letters to fit into our daily diet, but these are the most essential vitamins your body needs to function at its best. It looks as though a few additions to our lives could soon see us performing at the top of our game. Watch out world – here we come.
