All About Vitamins

Go into any nutritional isle at your local grocery store or Wal-Mart and you'll see shelf after shelf of vitamin and mineral supplements. Keeping fit and healthy is a hot topic these days, and taking vitamins is a big part of it. Taking vitamins has been shown to reduce the risks of many major cancers and diseases, as well as improve heart health, immune system, bones, memory and aid in weight loss.

While most of us know that taking vitamins can play a positive role in our health, the question most people have is what to take? How do you know what the proper amounts of vitamins and minerals are? Are there dangers with taking vitamins? Below is a helpful list of the most common vitamins along with the recommended daily dosages.

Vitamin A
For good vision, an especially night vision, Vitamin A is a must. Not only will it promote good vision, but is also works to improve your body's immune system by encouraging proper cell growth. Vitamin A is also important in bone growth. One important point to keep in mind is that doctors have said to limit Vitamin A to 3,000 IU a day. Anything over 10,000 IU a day can actually cause serious health problems and even death in extreme cases. Some of the foods that provide natural sources of Vitamin A include:
Sweet Potatoes
Carrots
Pumpkin
Broccoli
Spinach
Eggs

Vitamin B6
Taking Vitamin B6 plays a key role in the bodies releasing of the proper amount of blood glucose and helping to maintain the right level. It is an essential part of red blood cell metabolism and helps to provide oxygen to these cells. Vitamin B6 is also good for your immune system. Interestingly, some studies have shown Vitamin B6 to produce more vivid dreams during the night.

The recommended daily dosage of Vitamin B6 is 2mg per day. Foods that provide natural sources of Vitamin B6 include:
Fish
Liver
Chicken
Eggs
Carrots
Peas
Walnuts