Vitamins
Definition
Any of various fat-soluble or water-soluble organic substances essential in minute amounts for normal growth and activity of the body and obtained naturally from plant and animal foods.
What is a Vitamin?
The word vitamin comes from the Latin word Vita, meaning Life. Many intriguing words are derived from this which are also full of life. The words vital, vitality, vibrant, vigor, vivacious, alive, and many more are related to it. As this holds true, we look around us and soon realize the the life-force in all edible plants and animals give us what is essential to keep our bodies alive.
Vitamins are essential for health and growth of a living organism. Without the proper amount, the body does not assimilate any of them, and can't effectively do it's job. We get run-down, have symptoms of minor illnesses, and over time growing into major diseases. Our cells cease to replenish themselves, our blood doesn't deliver its daily dose of nutrients.
But, just what is a vitamin? "The body cannot manufacture all the compounds it needs out of the simple substances it gets by digesting fats, carbohydrates and proteins. The additional compounds it needs must be gotten ready-made from the diet, and they are known as vitamins." So a vitamin is not food itself, but an organic substance found in food which induces the body to use its food for energy, to resist disease and the to build and repair body tissue.
Vitamins and minerals don't work alone either. They perform their miracles with the help of Enzymes. The whole system is called our metabolism. Our bodies depend on it to make our hearts beat, and the food we eat is the God given fuel. Just as an automobile needs gasoline to run, the body needs food.
