Health Terms Glossary
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
- Water soluble vitamin found in mushrooms, eggs and many fruit and vegetables.
- Not storable, so regular daily intake required.
- Needed for: energy production, fat metabolism, brain function, skin and hair health, production of antistress hormones.
Consider Vitamin B5 if you are suffering from muscle tremors, exhaustion, burning hands and feet, nausea, teething grinding.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
- Water soluble vitamin found in bananas, broccoli, red kidney beans and many vegetables.
- Not storable, so regular daily intake required.
- Needed for: protein digestion, brain function, sex hormone balance.
- Natural antidepressant and diuretic. Helps control allergies.
- Do not take more than 25mg daily except under direction of a health professional.
Consider Vitamin B6 if you are suffering from PMS, infrequent dream recall, water retention, tremors, flaky skin.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
- Water soluble vitamin found in most fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly peppers, kiwi fruit, oranges, tomatoes, strawberries. Not heat stable so best sources are raw.
- Not storable, so regular daily intake required.
- Best taken in 'time release' form.
- Needed for: immune function; collagen products for skin, bone and joint strength; antioxidant; detoxifying. Protects against heart disease and cancer; production of antistress hormones.
Consider Vitamin C if you are suffering from frequent colds, slow healing, tender gums, infections, nosebleeds.
Vitamin D (cholecalciferol)
- Oil soluble vitamin found in animal products only: cod liver oil, herrings, salmon, cheese, eggs.
- Produced in the skin by the effect of sunlight.
- Storable, so excess is possible.
- Needed for: absorption, retention and use of Calcium; therefore, essential for bone health.
Consider Vitamin D if you are suffering from osteoporosis, joint pains, tooth decay, muscle cramps.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E very high levels of this superb antioxidant in a skincare product provides protective and antiageing effects.
Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol)
- Oil soluble vitamin found in vegetable oils, especially corn, soya, sunflower, wheatgerm and sesame.
- Small amounts in some oily fish.
- Needed for: antioxidant; protection from cancer and heart disease; thrombosis; improves healing and fertility; skin health.
Consider Vitamin E if you are suffering from exhaustion after light exercise; low sex drive; bruise easily; for infertility.
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)
- Oil soluble vitamin found in many leafy vegetables.
- Also produced by beneficial bacteria in the gut.
- Needed for: blood clotting; bone formation.
Consider Vitamin K if you suffer from osteoporosis or bruise easily.
Zinc
- Found in oysters (only really good source), lamb, pecan nuts, ginger, Brazil nuts, egg yolks, nuts and seeds.
- Needed for: component of over 200 enzyme systems; DNA production; healing; hormones; growth; stress management; hair health; immune function.
Consider Zinc if you suffer from poor smell or taste; frequent infections; acne or spots; stretch marks; white marks on nails; low fertility.
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