Vitamin A is the name given to a group of fat-soluble antioxidant compounds.  Two different types of vitamin A are found in the diet; “preformed vitamin A” (also referred to as retinol or retinal) is found in animal products and “pro-vitamin A” is found in plant based foods - the most common type being beta-carotene.  It was the first fat soluble vitamin to be recognised and is sometimes referred to as the “anti-infective” vitamin due to its enhancement of the body’s immunity against infections by increasing the lymphatic responses against disease forming antigens.  It keeps the mucous membranes moist that line the mouth, respiratory passage and urinary tract and enhances the activity of white blood cells. 

Known as retinol because it produces the pigments in the retina in the eye, it enables your eyes to adjust to light changes, keeps the eyes moist and improves night vision.  It can also significantly reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.  Vitamin A helps to keep your body free from free radicals and toxins which might cause damage to your skin, helping to keep it soft and supple by ensuring moisture retention.  Vitamin A deficiency can impair iron metabolism which can lead to anaemia despite adequate iron intake.  Playing an important role in cells’ ability to adapt to perform specific functions in larger organs, the richest sources of preformed vitamin A are found in liver, kidney, butter and whole milk, whereas good sources of pro-vitamin A are dark green leafy vegetables and yellow-orange vegetables such as sweet potatoes and carrots.

Vitamin A contributes to:

·         normal iron metabolism

·         the maintenance of normal mucous membranes

·         the maintenance of normal skin

·         the maintenance of normal vision

·         the normal function of the immune system

·         Vitamin A has a role in the process of cell specialisation

Vitamin E is an umbrella term for a group of eight fat soluble compounds (tocopherols) that are found in a wide variety of wholefoods.  These compounds, of which alpha-tocopherol is the most biologically active, have a number of functions in the body. 

Vitamin E is an important antioxidant whose primary role in the body is to scavenge free radicals – these are rogue atoms or atomic groups that have lost at least one electron, forcing them to steal electrons from neighbouring molecules in the hope of stabilizing themselves.  Whilst unsurprisingly this can cause havoc in the body, vitamin E has the ability to neutralize these free radicals thus protecting the cells from oxidative stress.  Vitamin E deficiency is rare due to its ability, whilst working in concert with a number of other compounds (including vitamin C), to restore reduced levels of vitamin E in the body.  The richest source of vitamin E is wheat germ, other foods that contain significant amounts include eggs, nuts, sunflower seeds, cold-pressed vegetable oils and avocados.

Vitamin E contributes to:

·         the protection of cells from oxidative stress

·         the regeneration of the reduced form of Vitamin E

Also known as thiamin, vitamin B1 is one of the eight water soluble vitamins in the vitamin B family.  It is a vital human nutrient playing an important role in how we convert our food into energy – when we consume our food it is broken down into simpler units such as carbohydrates, fats and amino acids, vitamin B1 plays a crucial role in utilising these units to produce energy.  This is especially true for cells in the brain where the energy demand is really high which is why it is also referred to as a “morale vitamin” for its positive effect on the nervous system and a healthy mental attitude! 

Promoting the health of the nervous system, vitamin B1 helps in the proper development of the myelin sheaths around nerves, improving the body’s ability to withstand stress, it is often called the “anti-stress” vitamin and is also reported to improve the memory and powers of concentration.  Thiamin is essential to the body’s cardiac heath, involved in blood formation and helping in the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine which is used to relay messages between the nerves and muscles to ensure proper cardiac function.  Brewer’s yeast and liver are the richest sources of vitamin B1, however, spirulina, linseeds, rye, wheat germ and kidney beans are also important sources of this vitamin.

Vitamin B1 contributes to:

·         normal energy-yielding metabolism

·         the normal functioning of the nervous system

·         normal psychological function

·         the normal function of the heart

Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, is a water soluble vitamin.  It is one of the eight B vitamins that are essential for human health and is found in a variety of foods, both plant based and animal based, and is not lost in cooking like many of the other vitamins.  Vitamin B2 is critical to the breakdown of dietary carbohydrates, fats and proteins into energy that you can use.  Without adequate riboflavin in the diet the enzymes involved in energy production do not function optimally which can lead to tiredness and stress. 

Working in tandem with other B vitamins, vitamin B2 helps to protect the nervous system and plays an important role in saving your body from oxidative stress caused by free radicals, serving as a component of the enzyme glutathione reductase which helps to neutralize free radicals.  Essential for the formation of fresh red blood cells, vitamin B2 also interacts with iron which is used to synthesize haemoglobin, allowing your body to get the oxygen rich blood needed to perform the daily functions of life.   Along with vitamin A, riboflavin also helps to maintain the mucous membranes in the digestive system.  Playing a major role in ensuring healthy corneas, perfect vision and radiant skin, vitamin B2 is best consumed as nature intended!  Dietary sources rich in this important vitamin include; dark leafy green vegetables, barleygrass, mushrooms, avocados, dairy products and wild rice.

Vitamin B2 contributes to:

·         normal energy yielding metabolism

·         the normal functioning of the nervous system

·         the maintenance of normal mucous membranes

·         the maintenance of normal red blood cells

·         the maintenance of normal skin

Iron is needed for a number of highly complex processes that continuously take place in the body on a molecular level and that are indispensable to human life.  Formation of haemoglobin is the chief function of this mineral – this is the primary protein found in red blood cells and represents about two thirds of the body’s iron.  Haemoglobin binds to the oxygen molecules that you breathe in from the air and releases them into your tissues.  The brain receives around 20% of the blood oxygen and a proper flow of blood to the brain can stimulate cognitive activity and help to create new neural pathways, it is especially important that children consume enough iron in their diet – iron deficiency in the first two years of a child’s life is associated with delayed cognitive and psychomotor development.  

Ribonucleic reductase is an iron dependant enzyme that is required for DNA synthesis (cell division), thus iron is required for a number of functions including healing and immune function - red blood cells are necessary for providing oxygen to damaged tissues, organs and cells.  Iron is also involved in food metabolism and is a cofactor and activator for some enzymes which play key roles in energy production and metabolism.  If iron stores are low symptoms can include tiredness, fatigue and dizziness.  Dietary iron has two forms, heme (animal based) and non-heme (plant based), important sources are; grass fed beef, oysters, spinach, lentils and beans.

Iron contributes to:

·         normal cognitive function

·         normal energy-yielding metabolism

·         normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin

·         normal oxygen transport in the body

·         normal function of the immune system

·         the reduction of tiredness and fatigue

·         normal cognitive development of children

·         Iron has a role in the process of cell division

Potassium, the third most abundant mineral in the human body, is an essential mineral whose ions are vital for the functioning of all living cells!  Potassium plays a role at both the cellular and electrical level – considered and electrolyte because it carries a tiny electrical charge – it is found in red blood cells, muscles and bones.  Our bodies use potassium ions to conduct electrical impulses along muscle and nerve cells, it helps to boost the efficiency of nerve reflexes that transmit messages from one body part to another, this in turn helps in muscle contraction to perform various activities without tiring quickly. 

Potassium also has vasodilating properties that work to relieve the tension of blood vessels which is one of the main causes of high blood pressure.  It is helpful in reversing the role of sodium in unbalancing normal blood pressure thus acting as a vital component that maintains the normality of blood pressure in the human body.  The importance of potassium should not be underestimated in your dietary plan, most famously found in bananas other rich sources of potassium include spinach, avocados and coconut water.

Potassium contributes to:

·         normal functioning of the nervous system

·         normal muscle function

·         the maintenance of normal blood pressure

Forming 2% of total body weight in adults, calcium’s best known role is in bone and tooth health.  It forms a part of hydroxyapatite, the mineral complex that makes your bones and teeth hard and maintains bone density.  It is especially important that children consume an adequate amount of calcium to maximise their bone mass prior to adult years.  Also an important part of the blood clotting process, calcium works together with vitamin K and a protein called fibrinogen in the clotting cascade, without adequate levels of calcium and vitamin K the blood will take longer to clot.  Calcium helps your muscles contract in response to nerve stimulation, it activates a protein called calmodulin that your muscle cells need to provide the fuel they need to function.  Assisting in the transmission of neural impulses, the calcium in your body also aids other types of cell communication – it acts as a “second messenger” in your cells which means it responds to chemical signals from outside your cells and then triggers a response inside your cell. 

Calcium helps to activate several digestive enzymes and there is considerable evidence that calcium and vitamin D intake are influential in modulating energy metabolism in humans.  Like all minerals, calcium doesn’t work alone but in tandem with other nutrients such as magnesium and vitamin D, for this reason, obtaining our calcium from whole foods – foods whose nutrient profiles have been optimised by nature for superior absorption – is the best way to remain healthy!  Excellent natural calcium sources include; chia seeds, sesame seeds, seaweed (such as kelp and Kombu), dark leafy greens and dairy products (such as yoghurt, cheese and kefir).

Calcium contributes to:

·         normal blood clotting

·         normal energy-yielding metabolism

·         normal muscle function

·         normal neurotransmission

·         the normal function of digestive enzymes

·         Calcium has a role in the process of cell division and specialisation

·         Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal bones

·         Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal teeth

·         Calcium is needed for normal growth and development of bone in children