| Practically from birth we are given extra vitamins | | | | worked. Long voyages by ship made many crew |
| and supplements in addition to those we get from | | | | members become ill with rickets, beriberi, scurvy, |
| our daily diet. Just how important are all of those | | | | and other deficiency diseases specific to such an |
| A's, C's, D's, E's, and iron, potassium, and all of the | | | | occurrence. They were found to be lacking in |
| rest? This alphabet of additives have proven | | | | many of the basic vitamins, especially vitamins A, |
| abilities to aid us when we are ill with certain | | | | many of the B complex vitamins as well as C, |
| diseases or to keep us from becoming ill (as in | | | | and D due to the restricted diet they consumed |
| the case of vitamin C) but how necessary are | | | | while out at sea. |
| they when we eat a balanced diet every day? | | | | Our body washes away excess |
| Multivitamins insure a balance | | | | Many of the vitamins we ingest in our normal daily |
| Vitamins are organic compounds our bodies | | | | intake are what are called "water soluble" which |
| require. Dietary experts assure us that we need a | | | | simply means they wash out of our systems |
| daily dose of supplemental vitamins and minerals | | | | quickly. Vitamin C and many of the B vitamins are |
| to keep our body in balance and ward off | | | | considered water soluble and thus need to be |
| diseases. Well before vitamins were identified as | | | | replenished daily. Most of the food we take in on |
| beneficial to life, the importance of eating certain | | | | a daily basis is utilized as we digest it, turning it in |
| foods was known. Ancient Egyptians found that | | | | to chemicals we need for life. Vitamins and |
| by feeding liver to patients with night blindness | | | | supplements as well as minerals found in many |
| their malady could be helped. Now, of course, we | | | | foods and liquids are necessary for survival but |
| know that it was the vitamin A in liver that aided | | | | some need to be flushed away and replenished on |
| those individuals. | | | | a daily basis. |
| The Egyptians did not know why, just that it | | | | |