Facts About Vitamins

Let's review some of the lesser-known points regarding vitamins.

- There is no 'set' requirement of vitamins for anybody. Our bodies are all different, and our vitamin consumption should be influenced by this factor. There are a number of organizations that set basic standards for vitamin consumption, but they are by no means universal. What may be the proper dosage for one may be vastly different for another. For instance, many guidelines feature different vitamin intakes based on sex and age. However, we all know that there are adult males that may weigh as little as 120 pounds, while others are NFL linebackers. This simple example shows that there can never be a universal standard for vitamin intake. However, it is important to know the Recommended Daily Allowances for vitamins so that you can get a baseline for what your vitamin consumption level should be.

- The word 'vitamin' comes from two different phrases: Vita, which is based in Latin and means 'life', and 'amine', which is a compound that was thought to be present in all vitamins. During the initial discoveries of vitamins, they were referred to as 'vitamines'. This was due to the belief that amines were present in every vitamin. However, Vitamin C was found to not contain any of these amine compounds, so the name got shortened to vitamin to take away the 'amine' connotation.

- Vitamin K and biotin are actually produced by our own intestines! These unique exceptions to the vitamin world are produced by microorganisms that are commonly addressed as 'gut flora'. Biotin is a substance which, when stored in the skin and hit by rays of sunlight, transforms into a good source of Vitamin D for our bodies.

- While knowledge was present in 1747 of the fact that citrus fruits were able to prevent a deadly disease known as scurvy, this information was widely unaccepted. This discovery was one of the earlier findings regarding vitamins, due to the fact that citrus fruits contain high amounts of Vitamin C and a Vitamin C deficiency was actually the cause of scurvy. Even in the 19th century, the Royal Navy of Britain believed that scurvy was caused by a lack of cleanliness and low morale. For that reason, they spent vast amounts of money on fine linens, expensive food and drink, and other wasteful items, while still becoming afflicted!

- While not technically recognized as a vitamin, some people refer to substances known as bioflavonoids as Vitamin P. It is a substance that is not created in the body, and is necessary to help enhance the effects Vitamin C. With this tag-team of nutrients, the structures of capillaries in the body are strengthened, helping to prevent bleeding and bruising. It is best when taken directly with Vitamin C as well as calcium. Some common sources of bioflavonoids include peppers, grapes, onions, and garlic.

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