It is no secret that the standardized mass food production, especially the fast food chains, have distorted the normal vitamin intake of great numbers of people, particularly the city dwellers. It's increasingly hard to stay healthy for people relying on modern industrially-produced foods. The change of agricultural technologies has been one of the reasons, and the eating habits of our contemporaries are another. Add to this the losses sustained by the quality of foods during transportation, storage, freezing and defrosting, and the picture becomes quite unwelcoming.

Solution appeared from the same source that had begot the problem, - progress. Since we are not getting a proper vitamin intake from our food, due to various technological innovations, we can expect those same innovations to produce vitamins separately from food, in concentrated dozes.

Among the dozens of vitamins, acids and minerals, there are more essential and less important, there are those that are critical for certain ages and certain climate zones, yet they all are indispensable in one way or another.

A short description of the most essential vitamins could like this:

* Vitamin A is considered an effective anti-oxidant, a promoter of healing processes, it is also important for eyes, and has a role in the skin health;

* Vitamin C is absolutely fundamental for the immune system, for the organism's ability to produce collagen, for the eye health (helps prevent cataracts), for the maintenance of the arterial system;



* Vitamin E is best know for its anti-oxidant effects, for its role in promoting healing processes, cordial conditions, possibly reducing the risks cancer;



* Vitamin B12 is especially important for children because of its role in growth processes and the work of brain, - shortage of this diet component may result in disrupted growth in children, bad memory, chronic depression; B12 is also critical for the formation and maintenance of the nerve tissue;



* Vitamin K has a role in keeping the density of blood at a normal level preventing it from becoming dangerously thick; it also has a positive effect in bone conditions such as osteoporosis;



* Beta-carotene, like Vitamins A and E, is an anti-oxidant, and has beneficial effects on the functioning of the arterial system; Beta-carotene is also important as an anti-cancer agent.



* Biotin is indispensable in the metabolism, in breaking down fats, proteins and carbohydrates; it is believed that Biotin is beneficial for diabetics by normalizing the glucose levels.



* Folic acid has a reputation of a nutrient very useful for pregnant women; it is also reported to have positive effects in conditions like Alzheimers; additionally, it has a role in cordial health.

One thing you should remember is that our modern world is treating you large amount of free radicals related to pollution , fertilizers, etc, and it is essential to counter-act them with anti-oxidants. Make proven anti-oxidants, like Vitamins A and E, a part of your daily nutrients intake.