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| Can Vitamins Help? |
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Nowadays people are becoming more and
more concerned about the vitamin content of their food, especially
pre-packaged and processed foods. There's little doubt that a well
balanced diet has a large part to play in both maintaining health,
preventing infection and also recovering from infection.
Each vitamin works to maintain the health of various cells in specific
parts of the body. If your body is deprived of certain vitamins over a
prolonged period you will eventually get sick - for example centuries ago
sailors deprived of Vitamin C developed scurvy. Some vitamins are
particularly useful in boosting the immune system and for maintaining the
health of the respiratory and digestive tracks (mucous membranes).
Sufferers of coughs, colds or congestion can consider choosing foods that
are rich sources of the following vitamins.
Vitamin A is essential for maintaining healthy vision and tissues inside
the body such as the mouth, nose, throat, windpipe, lungs, stomach,
intestines and bladder. Vitamin A aids resistance to infection and is
found in liver, beef, chicken, lamb, carrots, orange sweet potatoes and
pumpkin.
Vitamin E protects our stores of Vitamin A and also helps maintain healthy
blood cells. Good sources are avocados, raw nuts (especially almonds),
polyunsaturated margarine, oily fish, fresh fruit, leafy green vegies and
wholemeal bread.
Vitamin C is particularly beneficial in colder weather as it promotes
healing of wounds and maintains our white blood cells, which combat viral
infections. The highest concentrations of vitamin C are found in red
capsicums and guavas, but other rich sources include brussel sprouts,
oranges, kiwi fruit, cauliflower, broccoli and grapefruit.
Niacin is essential for growth and is needed for the production of many
hormones. It also promotes healthy skin and mucous membranes. Niacin can
be found in tuna, chicken, liver, salmon, beef, lamb, veal, pork and lamb
kidneys.
Folate makes red and white blood cells, DNA and is essential for the
normal functioning of the gut and nervous system. Rich sources include
leafy green vegetables, asparagus, broccoli, spinach and liver. |
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