Sources of the Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and Minerals are nutrients that essential to health. Unlike the micro nutrients of fat, carbohydrates, and protein, which you require in large doses ( grams), you need only small amounts of vitamins and minerals (milligrams or micrograms). Vitamins regulate important chemical reaction, While minerals give structure to bones and affect heart and muscle contraction. They don’t supply the body with calories, and therefore they don’t supply energy. They are, however, involve, involved in energy metabolism.
Food is your best source (good quality) of vitamins and minerals. A variety of wholesome, natural foods should ensure an adequate intake of these essential nutrients. Foods low in nutrients can, in many cases, cause deficiencies of vitamins and minerals. A diet high in processed food is most likely to lead to nutrient deficiencies because food processing depletes the vitamin and mineral content of many foods. Soil conditions, ripeness, canning, freezing, storage, and shipping all have an affect on nutrient content of food. That is why is essential to consider taking a high quality Multi-Vitamins and Minerals.
High Vitamin Content Foods
Vitamin A: Beef Liver, Fish liver oils, Egg yolks, Milk, Butter,, Cheese, Fortified margarine, Yellow Vegetables (Carrots, Sweet Potatoes), Green vegetables( spinach, Collards).
Thiamine (Vitamin B1): Pork, Legumes ,(dried peas and beans) Milk, Nuts, Peanuts, Brewer’s yeast, Whole-Grain and enriched cereal Products, Wheat Germ, Watermelon.
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): Meats, Liver, Kidneys, Eggs, Milk, Cheese, Whole grain and enriched Cereal Products, Whole germ, Green Leafy Veggies.
Niacin: Lean meats, Organ meats(Liver), Poultry, Fish, Legumes, Peanuts, Peanut butter, Whole Grain and Enriched Cereal Products.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Meat, Poultry, Fish, Whole Grain Cereal, seeds, Brewer’s yeast, Veggies, Watermelon, Cantaloupe.
Folic Acid: Meats, Livers, Eggs, Milk, Legumes, Whole Wheat Products, Brewer’s Yeast, Green Leafy Vegetables.
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamine): Meats, Poultry, Fish, eggs, Milk, Cheese, Butter, (not found in Plants food).
Vitamin C: Citrus Fruits, Oranges, Grape Fruits, Melons, berries, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Salad Green, Green Peppers, Cauliflowers.
Vitamin D: Liver, Tuna, Salmon, Cod Liver Oil, Eggs, Fortified Milk and Margarine.
Vitamin E: Legumes, Nuts, Seeds, Margarine, Salad Oils, Wheat Germ Oil, Green Leafy Vegetables, Asparagus, Peaches.
Vitamin K: Pork, Liver, Meats, Cauliflower, Spinach, Broccoli, Cabbage, Kale, Alfalfa, Egg Yolk.

Supplementing the diet with vitamins and minerals may be one way to ensure a more balanced intake. Also eating a balanced diet is a logical step because supplementing a poor diet will have only limited positive effect on health. Processed foods labeled “fortified” or “enriched are supplemented with some vitamins and minerals, but still aren’t as good as the natural food.
Vitamins and Minerals can most definitely be taken in excess, so restraint should be used in supplementing a diet. Environmental factors can also affect individual needs. Environmental antagonist that can increase your need for vitamins and Minerals include dieting, stress, supplement, do so in conjunction with an optimum diet.
Many athletes have used vitamins and minerals, along with other supplements, to improve their performance. Athletes sometimes need increases in the B vitamins C and in the mineral iron, but it’s believed that an increased caloric intake will offset these deficiencies. Limited studies suggest that the possible inclusion of a balanced supplement in conjunction with an optimum diet may enhance over all training performance. More research in this area is required.
If you do choose to supplement your diet, its best to avoid single-nutrient supplementation and use a balanced multivitamin/Mineral supplementation. Avoid high doses of nutrients stored in the body such as vitamins A,D,E, and K. Ask your physician or a registered dietitian to recommend a safe supplement.
Vitamins can be divided in to categories:
Multi-vitamins

Vitamin B-12
Vitamin C
