Vitamins

Vitamin A (Beta Carotene)

IMPORTANCE: Necessary for growth & repair of body tissues; helps maintain
smooth, soft disease-free skin; helps protect the mucous membranes of the
mouth, nose , throat & lungs, thereby reducing susceptibility to
infections; protects against air pollutants; counteracts night-blindness &
weak eyesight; aids in bone and teeth formation. Current medical research
shows that foods rich in Beta Carotene will help reduce the risk of lung
cancer & certain oral cancers. Unlike Vitamin A from fish liver oil, Beta
Carotene is non-toxic.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: May result in night blindness; increased
susceptibility to infections; rough, dry, scaly skin; loss of smell &
appetite; frequents fatigue; lack of tearing; defective teeth & gums'
retarded growth.


Vitamin B-1 (Thiamin)

IMPORTANCE: Plays a key role in the body's metabolic cycle for generating
energy; aids in the digestion of carbohydrates; essential for the normal
functioning of the nervous system, muscles & heart; stabilizes the
appetite; promotes growth & good muscle tone.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: May lead to the loss of appetite ; weakness & feeling
tired; paralysis & nervous irritability; insomnia; loss of weight; vague
aches & pains; mental depression & constipation; heart & gastrointestinal
problems.


Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin)

IMPORTANCE: Necessary for carbohydrate, fat & protein metabolism; aids in
the formation of antibodies and red blood cells; maintains cell
respiration; necessary for the maintenance of good vision, skin, nails &
hair; alleviates eye fatigue; promotes general health.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: May result in itching and burning eyes; cracks and
sores in the mouth & lips; bloodshot eyes; purplish tongue; dermatitis;
retarded growth; digestive disturbances; trembling; sluggishness; oily
skin.


Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine)

IMPORTANCE: Necessary for the synthesis & breakdown of amino acids, the
building blocks of protein; aids in fat and carbohydrate metabolism; aids
in the formation of antibodies; maintains the central nervous system; aids
in the removal of excess fluid of premenstrual women; promotes healthy
skin; reduces muscle spasms, leg cramps, hand numbness, nausea & stiffness
of hands; helps maintain a proper balance of sodium & phosphorous in the
body.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: May result in nervousness, insomnia, skin eruptions,
loss of muscular control, anemia, mouth disorders, muscular weakness,
dermatitis, arm & leg cramps, loss of hair, slow learning, and water
retention.



Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamin)

IMPORTANCE: Helps in the formation & regeneration of red blood cells, thus
helping prevent anemia; necessary for carbohydrate, fat & protein
metabolism; maintains a healthy nervous system; promotes growth in
children; increases energy; needed for Calcium absorption.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: May lead to pernicious anemia, poor appetite, growth
failure in children, tiredness, brain damage, nervousness, neuritis,
degeneration of spinal cord, depression, lack of balance.



Vitamin B-3 (Niacin)

IMPORTANCE: Improves circulation and reduces the cholesterol level in the
blood; maintains the nervous system; helps metabolize protein, sugar & fat;
reduces high blood pressure; increases energy through proper utilization of
food; prevents pellagra; helps maintain a healthy skin, tongue & digestive
system.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: May result in pellagra, gastrointestinal disturbance,
nervousness, headaches, fatigue, mental depression, vague aches & pains,
irritability, loss of appetite, insomnia, skin disorders, muscular
weakness, indigestion, bad breath, canker sores.


Folic Acid

IMPORTANCE: Necessary for DNA & RNA synthesis, which is essential for the
growth and reproduction of all body cells; essential to the formation of
red blood cells by its action on the bone marrow; aids in amino acid
metabolism.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: May result in gastrointestinal disorders, anemia,
Vitamin B-12 deficiency, pre-mature gray hair.


Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

IMPORTANCE: Essential for healthy teeth, gums & Bones; helps heal wounds,
scar tissue, & Fractures; prevents scurvy; builds resistance to infection;
aids in the prevention & treatment of the common cold; gives strength to
blood vessels; aids in the absorption of iron. It is required for the
synthesis of collagen, the intercellular "cement" which holds tissues
together. It is also one of the major antioxidant nutrients. It prevents
the conversion of nitrates (from tobacco smoke, smog, bacon, lunch meats, &
some vegetables) into cancer-causing substances. According to Dr. Lines
Pauling, the foremost authority on Vitamin C, Vitamin C will decrease the
risk of getting certain cancers by 75%.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: May lead to soft & bleeding gums, swollen or painful
joints, slow-healing wounds & fractures, bruising, nosebleeds, tooth decay,
loss of appetite, muscular weakness, skin hemorrhages, capillary weakness,
anemia, impaired digestion.


Vitamin D

IMPORTANCE: Improves absorption and utilization of Calcium and Phosphorous;
required for bone and teeth formation; maintains a stable nervous system
and normal heart action.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: May lead to rickets, tooth decay, softening of bones,
improper healing of fractures, lack of vigor, muscular weakness, inadequate
absorption of calcium, retention of phosphorous in the kidneys.


Vitamin E

IMPORTANCE: Major anti-oxidant nutrient; retards cellular aging due to
oxidation; supplies oxygen to the blood which is then carried to the heart
and other organs; thus alleviating fatigue; aids in bringing nourishment to
cells; strengthens the capillary walls & prevents the red blood cells from
destructive poisons; prevents & dissolves blood clots; has also been used
by doctors in helping prevent sterility, muscular dystrophy, calcium
deposits in blood walls and heart conditions.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS: May lead to a rupture of red blood cells, loss of
reproductive powers, lack of sexual vitality, abnormal fat deposits in
muscles, degenerative changes in the changes in the heart and other
muscles; dry skin.