Vitamins |
A term applied to a group of trace substances occurring naturally in foods and which are necessary for normal nutrition. Deficiency can cause defective growth and poor health, leading to the body becoming susceptible to disease, deformity, pain and suffering. |
Vitamin A |
Usually taken in ample quantity in a normal diet and stored in the liver. Found in carrots, egg yolk, liver, butter, milk and most green vegetables. Cod Liver Oil and halibut Oil are probably the two riches sources.
Deficiency causes an inflamation of the eyes, night blindness, skin problems, poor teeth, and lack of vitality in the tissues leading to localised inflamation. Normal cooking will not destroy it.
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Vitamin B1 |
Found in cereals, particularly in the husks of grains, and therefore over milling to produce white bread or rice can create a deficiency.
Deficiency causes a muscular weakness and heart problems. Eat wholemeal bread, brown rice, liver, egg yolk etc, especially needed for pregnant women.
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Vitamin B2 |
Present in milk, eggs, liver, yeast, broccoli, spinach and beer.
Deficiency is thought to cause inflammation of the cornea, lip sores and dermatitis.
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Vitamin B3 |
Again present in egg yolk, liver, yeast, and a range of animal and vegetable foods.
Not much can be gleaned about this vitamin except that in rats it's deficiency seems to cause greying of the hair, and in chickens causes dermatitis and degeneration of the nerve fibres in the spinal cord, but these effects are not necessarilty reflected in man.
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Vitamin B6 |
Present in liver, yeast, cereals and fish.
Deficiency can cause wasting or ageing of the skin, hair, sweat glands and nerve tissue with young children more susceptible than adults. Loss of weight, anaemia, irritability and in severe cases convulsions can occur.
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Vitamin B12 |
Brewers yeast is the main source but mainly manufactured due to the large quantities required for an extract.
Contains cyanide and cobalt and effective in the treatment of anaemia.
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Vitamin C |
Found in oranges, lemons, grapefruits and other citrus fruits, green vegetables, milk, meat and other fresh foods. May be destroyed by high temperatures and may be lost in storage.
Deficiency can lead to symptoms of scurvy, muscular weakness, bleeding under the skin, swelling and inflamation of the gums, loss of teeth and damage to joints. Can occur in babies fed only on artificial foods.
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Vitamin D |
Only found in a few foods such as cod liver oil and other fish oils, and egg yolk.
Required for growth and therefore particularly valuable for young children. Deficiency causes rickets with softening and irregular growth of bones, swollen joints, distorted limbs, chest deformity and other malfunctions. Overdosing can also be damaging, causing over calcification and phosphorus in the blood, with bones and teeth becoming over calcified, kidney stones etc.
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Vitamin E |
Mainly found in wholegrains, butter and margarine, with small amounts present in other fresh foods.
Unlikely to be found wanting but it's deficiency may be the cause of some miscarriages. Invaluable in the treatment of heart and blood disorders and controls the unnecessary absorption of some nutrients.
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Vitamin K |
Main sources are spinach, leafy vegetables, tomatoes and liver.
An anti-haemorrage vitamin, necessary for the proper clotting of the blood, and successful in the treatment of jaundice.
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