Importance of Vitamins, Indian Naturopathy

       

In Naturopathy, there is a great importance of Vitamins. Vitamins are potent organic compounds which are found in small concentrations in foods.

            Vitamine` meaning a vital amine, is of great importance in Naturopathy. Vitamins are potent organic compounds which are found in small concentrations in foods and perform specific and vital functions in the body chemistry. Except for a few exceptions, they cannot be manufactured or synthesised by the organism and their absence or improper absorption results in specific deficiency disease. It is not possible to sustain life without all the essential vitamins. In their natural state they are found in minute quantities in organic foods. Vitamins, which are of several kinds, differ from each other in physiological function, in chemical structure and in their distribution in food.

            Vitamins are broadly divided into two categories, namely, fat-soluble and water-soluble. Vitamins A, D, E and K are all soluble in fat and fat solvents and are therefore, known as fat-soluble. They are not easily lost by ordinary cooking methods and they can be stored in the body to some extent, mostly in the liver. They are measured in international units. Vitamin B Complex and C are water soluble. They are dissolved easily in cooking water. A portion of these vitamins may actually be destroyed by heating. They cannot be stored in body and hence they have to be taken daily in foods. Any extra quantity taken in any one day is eliminated as waste.