A vitamin is an organic (carbon-containing) chemical compound your body must have in very small amounts for normal growth, metabolism (creating energy in your cells), and health. You need vitamins to make enzymes and hormones—important substances your body uses to make all the many chemical reactions you need to live. You must get your vitamins from your food or from supplements

do you know?

There are 13 vitamins in all, and you need every single one of them, no exceptions. Vitamins aren't food or a substitute for food. They have no calories and give you no energy directly—but your body needs vitamins, especially the B vitamins, to convert food to energy.

Your body has about 60 trillioin cells in it. Every moment of every day, thousands of different chemical reactions are happening inside each cell. To make each one of those reactions happen, your body makes a specific enzyme just for that particular purpose and no other. When the reaction is over, still other enzymes break down the specific enzyme and recycle it. To make all those enzymes and keep your body running smoothly, you need plenty of vitamins and minerals.

The vitamins are divided into two groups: fat-soluble and water-soluble.

Fat-Soluble Vitamins:

Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in your body, mostly in your fatty tissues and in your liver. Vitamins A, E, D and K are fat-soluble—that is, they dissolve in fat but not water. Because you can store these vitamins, you don't have to get a supply of them every day. On the other hand, getting too much of these vitamins means they could build up in your body and cause problems.

Water-Soluble Vitamins:

Water-soluble vitamins can't really be stored in your body for very long. That's because these vitamins dissolve in water, so any extra is carried out of your body. Vitamin C and all the B vitamins are water-soluble. Because you can't store these vitamins, you need to get a fresh supply every day. You can't really overdose on water-soluble vitamins.

 about   "VITAMIN-A"

• the best-defined function of vitamin A is its role in vision. It provides the required stimulation for vision in the retina.
  
  
• vitamin A is required for growth, reproduction, and the maintenance of life. It builds up resistance to respiratory and other infections, and keeps the mucous linings and membranes of the body, especially those of the eyes, lungs, stomach, and intestines, in a healthy condition.

• It prevents eye diseases, aids in the secretion of gastric juices, and the digestion of protein.

• It also plays a vital role in preventing and clearing up infections of the skin, and in promoting healthy hair, teeth, and gums.

• Vitamin A increases the permeability of blood capillaries, thereby contributing better tissue oxygenation.

• It also heps prevent premature ageing and senility, increases life expectancy, and extends youthfulness.

Vitamin A - Deficiency Symptoms

Deficiency of vitamin A may result in inflammation of the eyes, poor vision, and nightblindness. There is an increased susceptibility to infections, especially of the respiratory tract, in the form of frequent and prolonged common colds. Vitamin A deficiency may lead to lack of appetite and vigour, defective teeth and gums, skin disorders such as acne, boils and premature wrinkles. When vitamin A is present in insufficient amounts, the mucous membranes of the nose, throat and mouth, the bronchial tubes, lungs, intestinal tract, kidneys and vagina are greatly affected.

Other deficiency symptoms include retarded growth in children, dry and dull hair, dandruff, excessive hair loss, ridged nails, and a poor sense of taste and smell.

Sources of Vitamin A

Foods rich in vitamin A (retinol) include those of animal origin such as sheep liver, egg yolk, wholemilk, butter and ghee (clarified butter). Vegetables such as colocasia, turnip greens, drumsticks, beet, carrots, and spinach contain a lot of carotene. Fruits like mangoes, apricots, gooseberries, raspberries, and oranges are also rich in carotene.

وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرۡحَمۡهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرً۬ا
اے میرے رب جس طرح انہوں(والدین) نے مجھے بچپن سےپالا ہے اسی طرح تو بھی ان پر رحم فرما
( سورة بنیٓ اسرآئیل / الإسرَاء آیت 24
Submit Your Recipe | Dinnerware Showcase