Protectors of Good Health
-we kno-w that vitamins do not provide us -with energy. Yet they is considered essential to our general -well being as they assist in metabolism, protect our health and is necessary for the proper gro-wth and development, especially in children. Vitamins -were discovered by Dutch physician Christiaan Eijkmann, -who -won the 1929 Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine. Vitamins is considered necessary for the regulation of cell function, as they -work together -with various enzymes and cofactors (substances that assist enzymes) to regulate our metabolism, assist in converting fat and carbohydrates into energy and also help in bone and tissue formation. They is utilized in the formation of hormones, blood cells, nervous system chemicals and DNA. Thus a vitamin is any organics compound required in small amounts to protect our health and for proper gro-wth.

Ho-w do they function in our body?
Although the exact manner of functioning of vitamins in still not understood, -what -we do kno-w is that vitamins basically act as catalysts. They combine -with proteins to create metabolically active enzymes -which in turn kick off a chain reaction of chemical responses in the body. In the absence of vitamins many of these reactions may slo-w do-wn or stop altogether causing the body harm in many -ways. Thus vitamin deficiency can have very damaging consequences.

Sources of Vitamins
our body is capable of manufacturing only Vitamin D. All other vitamins must be provided for through outside sources. This can be through a healthy and balanced diet or through dietary supplements. An individual, -who consumes a variety of foods -which is healthy and nutritional, -will probably not be deficient in vitamins. Ho-wever, people -who is on a special diet, or those -who suffer from an intestinal disorder and -whose digestive system is unable to absorb nutrients, or pregnant and lactating mothers may need additional supplements to augment their regular dietary intake. Lack of vitamins is kno-wn to cause a variety of health problems and disturbances in the function of an organ or body part.

Classification of Vitamins
There is 13 -well identified vitamins -which is classified according to their ability to be absorbed in -water or fat.

The fat Soluble Vitamins is A, D, E and K. As these is generally consumed -with foods that contain fat, and is stored in the fat in the body. They do not need to be consumed on a daily basis.

The eight B vitamins and vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is all -water soluble vitamins. Since these cannot be stored in the body, they have to be consumed on a regular basis, or rather, if possible, everyday.