Question

Why are vitamin A and vitamin C essential to us? Give their important source.

Answer 1

Hint: Vitamins are made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen. Vitamins are called micronutrients because they are required in only very small quantities. They all have chemical names but they are usually referred to by letters. Vitamins have two major categories, they are water soluble, fat soluble.

Complete Answer:
Vitamin A is the category of unsaturated nutritional organic compounds that includes retinol, retinal, retinoic acid, and several pro vitamin A carotenoids (most notably beta carotene). It is fat soluble and retinol. It is mostly found in animals and plants.
- Deficiency of vitamin A causes: Night blindness, decreased resistance to infections, extremely dry skin, hair or nails.
- Essential vitamin A for our body: Bone growth, reproduction, cell division and differentiation, healthy skin, it is important in the ratio of pregnant females.
- Source of vitamin A: eggs, meat, cheese, milk, spinach, carrots, pink grapefruit, potatoes.

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is considered essential to our survival. It is known as ascorbic acid. It helps to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.
- Deficiency of vitamin C causes: Weakening of connection tissue, susceptibility to infection, delayed healing of wounds, incomplete iron absorption.
- Essential vitamin C for our body: Critical to the immune system, acts as antioxidant, protects cholesterol and prevents scurvy.
- Source of vitamin C: Rosehips, blackcurrants, green peppers, kiwi, strawberry, broccoli, cabbage, citrus.

Note: Water soluble vitamins are vitamin B, C. Fat soluble includes vitamins A, D, E, K. Water soluble vitamins cannot be stored in the body, excess is excreted in urine, unstable to heat and light. Fat soluble vitamins can be stored in the body, if a large amount ingested leads to danger, fairly stable at normal cooking temperature.