Vitamins

What are Vitamins

Vitamins are organic compounds which are needed in small quantities to sustain life. We get vitamins from food, because the human body either does not produce enough of them, or none at all.

Vitamin wheel reference diagram to learn about the vitamin groups and common foods containing them.

An organic compound contains carbon. When an organism (living thing) cannot produce enough of an organic chemical compound that it needs in tiny amounts, and has to get it from food, it is called a vitamin.

Natural Sources of Vitamins

Natural Sources of Vitamins

Vitamin A



Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin, and therefore, needs to be consumed with fat in order to have optimal absorption. High vitamin A foods include sweet potatoes, carrots, dark leafy greens, winter squashes, lettuce, dried apricots, cantaloupe, bell peppers, fish,liver, and tropical fruits.

25 Foods High in Vitamin A

1. Carrots 
   
2. Lettuce
   
3. Sweet Potatoes
   
4. Cod Liver Oil
   
5. Red Pepper
   
6. Turkey Liver
   
7. Paprika
   
8. Mangoes
   
9. Whole Milk
   
10. Mustard Greens
    
11. Butternut Squash
    
12. Dried Basil
    
13. Cantaloupe
    
14. Peas
    
15. Turnip Greens
    
16. Dried Apricots
    
17. Tomatoes
    
18. Dried Marjoram
    
19. Spinach
    
20. Peaches
    
21. Papaya
    
22. Red Bell Peppers
    
23. Dandelion Greens
    
24. Beef Liver
    
25. Fortified Oatmeal
    

Vitamin B


B vitamins are a class of water-soluble vitamins that play important roles in cell metabolism. Though these vitamins share similar names, research shows that they are chemically distinct vitamins that often coexist in the same foods. In general, supplements containing all eight are referred to as a vitamin B complex. Individual B vitamin supplements are referred to by the specific name of each vitamin (e.g., B1, B2, B3 etc.)

Vitamin C

List of Vitamins: Click here