Fat Soluble Vitamins
Important Note!
Fat soluble vitamins can be harmful or fatal in high doses. If you are taking any vitamin supplements, keep them well out of reach of children.
Vitamin A
What it does:
Also referred to as "Beta Carotene", vitamin A is responsible for healthy eyes and also aids in the growth of skin and bone. It also helps your body create certain hormones.
Where it's found:
Vitamin A is found in milk, butter, cheese, vegetables (especially the dark green leafy ones!), liver and some fruits.
What happens when you don't have enough:
Without enough vitamin A, you may experience poor tooth and bone growth, bad gums, dry, scaly skin and night blindness. Poor appetite and fatigue are also symptoms attributed to a lack of this essential vitamin.
What happens if you have too much:
Too much vitamin A can cause nausea, weight loss (not the good kind) and more skin conditions.
Vitamin D
What it does:
Vitamin D is essential for strong bones and teeth. It is a key factor in your body's ability to absorb the calcium it needs to build and maintain your skeletal structure.
Where it's found:
Vitamin D is found in eggs, milk and fish. It is also synthesized by our bodies in the sun.
What happens when you don't have enough:
Kids: get enough vitamin D! Not enough leads to poor, soft and misshapen bones when your skeleton develops. In adults, deficiency degrades the bones making our bones susceptible to cracks and breaks.
What happens if you have too much:
Too much vitamin D can cause kidney stones.
Vitamin E
What it does:
Vitamin E is important for building and maintaining cells in all parts of your body. It is a big player when it comes to keeping your blood healthy. It also functions as an antioxidant to clean harmful substances out of the body.
Where it's found:
Vitamin E is found in whole grains, green leafy veggies, egg yolks and vegetable oil.
What happens when you don't have enough:
Not enough vitamin E can cause anemia, a condition that impairs your blood's ability to carry oxygen, which has a pile of symptoms of its own. Deficiency also can lead to muscle damage to your heart and other muscles.
What happens if you have too much:
Dizziness or weakness.
Vitamin K
What it does:
Vitamin K is responsible for making your blood clot. This is a big part of why you don't bleed to death from a small cut!
Where it's found:
Vitamin K occurs in (once again!) green leafy vegetables, cabbage, cauliflower, liver and dairy products.
What happens when you don't have enough:
Not enough vitamin K can lead to bleeding problems (hemorrhaging).
What happens if you have too much:
Too much vitamin K can interfere with anti-clotting medications and may cause jaundice.
By now, if you have been paying attention, you will have learned one thing for sure: Eat your green leafy vegetables!!!