| Taken alone or combined with other vitamins in a | | | | ascorbate or ascorbyl palmitate. |
| multi-vitamin product, these vitamin supplements | | | | The B Vitamins |
| can help you regulate your body functions and | | | | This group is composed of eight B vitamins which |
| achieve health. If you must stock up your | | | | are very important sources of nutrients, especially |
| medicine cabinet with the best vitamin | | | | for vegetarians, who miss out on B vitamins |
| supplements, make sure you have these: | | | | found in meats and poultry. Some of the benefits |
| Vitamins A, D, E & K. | | | | you can get from B vitamins include: |
| These vitamins are fat-soluble and can only be | | | | Prevention of heart disease and memory loss |
| absorbed by the body using fats from food. | | | | courtesy of B6, taken as pyridoxine hydrochloride |
| When taken in the right dosage, these vitamins | | | | in supplement form. B6 also helps promote the |
| contribute to many of the body's metabolic | | | | production of hormones and important brain |
| processes and | | | | chemicals. Folic acid, also a B vitamin, is often |
| Vitamins A and E, for example, along with Vitamin | | | | recommended for pregnant women because it |
| C are known as antioxidants. They help prevent | | | | regulates cell growth, helps prevent pre-term |
| cell the negative effects caused by free radicals. | | | | delivery and birth defects. It also helps reduce the |
| Free radicals have been implicated for causing cell | | | | risk of hypertension, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, |
| damage and even increase the risk of cancer. | | | | depression and memory loss. |
| Vitamin A and beta-carotene helps maintain | | | | Vitamin B12, taken as cobalamin or |
| healthy cells and tissues, protects eyesight and | | | | cyanocobalamin, is an important source of |
| boosts immunity. The best Vitamin A supplements | | | | nutrients that fight heart disease, anemia and |
| usually contain retinyl palmitate or retinyl acetate | | | | memory loss. It helps regulate brain function. |
| and a smaller percentage of beta-carotene. | | | | Thiamine or B1, helps turn carbohydrates into |
| Vitamin E | | | | sugar glucose and helps regulate the nervous |
| This is more known as the skin vitamin because it | | | | system. Riboflavin or B2 also functions in the |
| counteracts cell aging. It also reduces the risk of | | | | same way and are important for maintaining good |
| heart disease, memory loss and cancer. Vitamin E | | | | skin health. |
| comes in two forms: the natural D-alpha | | | | Niacin or B3 prevents pellagra, which causes |
| tocopheryl and the synthetic version. The best | | | | diarrhea and dermatitis and can lead to mental |
| vitamin E supplement is the natural form because | | | | illness. Pantothenic acid and biotin helps break |
| it is easier to absorb. | | | | down lipids, amino acids and carbohydrates. These |
| Vitamin K | | | | two B vitamins help prevent dermatitis, a scaly |
| Vitamin K, like Vitamin E, helps reduce the risk of | | | | skin disorder. |
| a heart disease. It is also effective in boosting | | | | How to use vitamin supplements |
| bone growth and helps the blood to clot properly. | | | | Some vitamins, particularly fat-soluble vitamins, |
| Take the Vitamin K1, phylloquinone or simply | | | | can have harmful effects when taken in huge |
| Vitamin K. | | | | amounts. To make sure you don't overdose and |
| Vitamin C | | | | still meet all your nutritional needs, make sure to |
| Each time you had a cold, your doctor probably | | | | take only moderate doses of multi-vitamins and |
| recommended you take Vitamin C in high doses. | | | | other mineral supplements. |
| That's because Vitamin C is not only an | | | | Refer to the recommended daily allowance and |
| antioxidant, it is also a strong immunity booster. | | | | find out how much of each vitamin meets 100% |
| And you don't have to worry about overdosing | | | | of the daily dose. Once you meet this, you're |
| on it because it is water-soluble. It also helps | | | | okay. Don't take more than the recommended |
| promote fast healing of wounds and scars and | | | | daily dose if you're healthy and have no health |
| helps maintain good skin. | | | | problems. Take more than the daily dose if |
| Vitamin C is also known to reduce the risk of | | | | recommended by your physician or if you're |
| heart disease, sun damage and cancer. Take | | | | deficient. |
| Vitamin C supplements as ascorbic acid, calcium | | | | |