Vitamin complexes came into widespread use in the forties of the last century. Vitamin deficiency for the first time in the world was experimentally reproduced in 1880 on white mice by the Russian physician NI Lunin.
In 1912, the Polish scientist K. Funk called substances discovered by Lunin, vitamins, and diseases caused by complete absence of them in nutrition, beriberi. Does it mean that there was no beriberi? Was. People just did not understand how to deal with it. Now the situation is in our favor. About how lucky we are, read below.
Avitaminosis is the complete absence of one or another vitamin in the body, which leads to serious diseases. For example, in the complete absence of vitamin C in the body develops scurvy, in the absence of vitamin D – rickets. Insufficient amount of vitamins would be more correctly called hypovitaminosis, however, the term avitaminosis is more understandable and habitual.
What vitamins do we miss most often?
In Siberia, the shortage of vitamin D, which we do not get because of insufficient insolation, and vitamin C, is the most important thing – this vitamin, by the way, is most easily replenished in the body with food, without additional additives, but half of the population of Russia suffers from a shortage of it. In addition, the most frequently observed inadequate intake of vitamins B1, B2, B6, folic acid and carotene – in 30-100% of the population.
How is avitaminosis manifested and how dangerous is it?
Vitamins and minerals are necessary for us for normal metabolism, tissue renewal, they play the role of catalysts of various enzyme systems, and their lack or insufficient quantity affects the organization of all vital activity. Drowsiness during the day and difficult waking up in the morning, sluggishness and fatigue, absent-mindedness, irritability, depression, deterioration of the skin – cracked lips, peeling of the face and especially the palms, “sticking” on the lips – these are all manifestations of spring avitaminosis. The main problem that occurs when there is a shortage of vitamins in the body is a strong decrease in immunity.
How does vitamin deficiency occur?
Reference. Vitamins (from Latin vita – life) are a group of organic compounds of various chemical nature necessary for human, animal and other organisms to be fed in insignificant quantities in comparison with the basic nutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates and salts), but of great importance for normal metabolism and vital activity.
For normal life, a certain amount of vitamins that enter the body with food or (some vitamins) are synthesized by intestinal bacteria is necessary. Since vitamins are substances that come only with food, then in the wrong diet, the reason for the lack of vitamins is hidden. Snacking sandwiches, eating dry, constant consumption of convenience foods and pasteurized food, lack of a normal meal schedule and most importantly – a balanced intake of nutrients – carbohydrates, proteins, fats and other elements in the body and leads to beriberi. Also adversely affect stress, climatic conditions, adverse environmental conditions.
How to defeat beriberi?
The most important weapon in the fight against vitamin deficiency is a balanced diet, with which the necessary amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates would enter the body.
It is recommended to eat vegetables (very useful sauerkraut), fresh herbs, fruits (both fresh and frozen) throughout the spring period, poultry and fish – these products contain vitamins and amino acids that are easily absorbed by the body.
However, it must be remembered that with food we can not get the necessary daily norm of all vitamins and microelements we need, even with a very diverse diet. Fomichyova Marina Leonidovna, director of the City Center for Medical Prevention, explains why it is so important to include vitamin complexes in the diet: “In the modern world, people lead a sedentary lifestyle and spend far fewer calories than genetically invested. If the primitive man was spending 5000 kk a day, then today, for a kallorazhu, the daily diet should not exceed 2000 kk, so as not to accumulate excess weight. But vitamins and trace elements should at the same time come in as much as it is contained in 5000 kk, which is impossible without including in the diet of complexes of synthetic vitamins and the use of enriched products.
For example, in our region it is necessary to use iodized salt, there are fatty varieties of fish for replenishing vitamin D, coarse bread for replenishing B vitamins. ”
Where are the vitamins?
Vitamin A is found in fresh dairy products (milk, cream, butter), fish oil, egg yolk, meat, liver. Provitamin A – carotene is found in vegetables, mostly yellow (tomatoes, carrots, pumpkins, apricots, melons, mountain ash, etc.).
B vitamins are found in almost all vegetable and dairy products. There are many of them in beer and baker’s yeast, meat, liver and especially in shells and germs of grains.
Vitamin D is found in products of animal origin: fish, fish oil (especially cod), caviar, egg yolk, in fresh milk and butter, and also forms in the human body and animals under the influence of ultraviolet rays.
Vitamin E is found in butter and vegetable oils, meat, liver, egg yolk, peas, corn, vegetables.
Vitamin P is found in plant products: chokeberry, black currant, dogrose, citrus, strawberry, grapes, carrots, beets, potatoes, etc.
And the greatest amount of vitamin C is not in citrus fruits, as is commonly believed, but in the dog rose.
What vitamins are taken?
Regarding the choice of brands of synthetic vitamins, we asked to comment on this issue of a therapist of the highest category Baranov Elena, a specialist in honey. center “Zdravitsa”. According to her, Vitamount Complit was the most effective. Polyvitamins from the “Vitamax” and “Vitalux” series (91%) have similar indices. Good properties of universal multivitamins are shown: “Van-e-dei maxi”, “Vitrum Centurium”, “Pharma-honey Lady’s” formula for hair, skin and nails. ”
Today, vitamins are produced in tablets, capsules, plates, dragees. They can be swallowed, sucked, chewed and even dissolved in a glass of water. When choosing vitamins, it is recommended to pay attention to the content of not only vitamins (groups C, B, D), but also trace elements (such as magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, which also actively participate in the life of our body). Do not forget that it is necessary to struggle with the spring illness in a complex – remember about walks in the fresh air, proper nutrition and rest.
