What do vitamins do, and why do I need them?
Vitamin B12
Key benefits to the body:
- Supporting our energy levels
- Helping to make red blood cells
- Keeping our immune system healthy
Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that plays a big role in supporting our energy levels. It does this by assisting our bodies to get energy from the food we eat whilst helping to reduce feelings of tiredness.
One of the ways it reduces tiredness is by helping to form red blood cells. These cells transport oxygen around the body. Without enough oxygen our bodies feel tired and fatigued.
Like vitamin C and D, it also plays a role in our immune function, helping us to fight and prevent infection.
Vitamin C
Key benefits to the body:
- Formation of collagen for the skin, teeth, gums, cartilage blood vessels and bones.
- Supporting energy production from food
- Keeping the immune system functioning
Vitamin C is best known for its role in supporting our immune system. This is particularly important when exercising as our immune function reduces temporarily afterwards.
Its other major role is in the formation of collagen, a protein that helps to hold the body together by providing structure and strength.
Like many of the B vitamins it also assists us in getting energy out of the food we eat, keeping us energised throughout the day.
Vitamin D3
Key benefits to the body:
- Supporting bone and teeth health
- Keeping our muscles healthy
- Helping our immune system to function optimally
Vitamin D3 is the active form of vitamin D which means once we consume it is gets to work straight away and doesn’t need to be activated…
One of its best-known roles in the body is that it helps calcium to be absorbed into the body from the foods we eat. If we are deficient in vitamin D it may mean that we do not absorb as much calcium from our food.
Because of this vitamin D, like calcium, is important for our teeth and bone health throughout our lives.
Vitamin D also supports our muscles to function properly and plays an important role in ensuring that our immune system is working optimally to reduce the risk of infection.
