Vitamin A is especially important for maintaining 1 of our 5 senses. Can you name what this sense is?
Vision.
Vitamin B helps your body form ______ blood cells and get energy from the food you eat.
True or false: taking vitamin C every day is helpful for preventing colds.
True! Vitamin C is an antioxidant and it helps the immune system fight off pathogens.
Vitamin D is important for absorbing ______, which is needed for strong bones.
Calcium! Eating dairy and dark greens are great ways to get calcium, and there are many calcium supplements you can take too.
True or False: Vitamins contain energy and require enzymatic digestion
False. Our bodies don’t make the enzymes to break these bonds.
Eating colorful fruits and vegetables can give us a lot of Vitamin A. What common orange vegetable is a particularly good source of Vitamin A?
Carrots! Other sources of Vitamin A include sweet potatoes, kale, and spinach.
Vitamin B is mainly found in proteins and leafy greens. Can you give an example of a food that is high in protein? What is an example of a leafy green?
Foods high in protein include fish, chicken, beef, pork, etc. Vegetarian options like beans and avocado are also high in protein!
Leafy greens include kale, spinach, and collard greens.
Can you name one fruit or vegetable that is a good source of vitamin C?
The most common answer is oranges! But, you can also get vitamin C by eating berries, tomatoes, broccoli, and peppers and more.
In addition to eating healthy food, there is another easy way to get vitamin D. You can stand outside on a (sunny/cloudy/rainy) day. Pick one answer!
Sunny day! This is when your body can make the most Vitamin D.
What vitamin increases the bioavailability of calcium?
Vitamin D
True or false: both men and women need to take the same amount of Vitamin A per day.
False! The recommended amount for adult men is 900 micrograms (mcg) but for adult women it is only 700 mcg.
Try not to go over the recommended amount when taking vitamins!
How many classes of vitamin B do you think there are? Choose from one of the choices.
A. 5
B. 8
C. 12
The correct choice is B! There are 8 different subgroups of Vitamin B.
No! Vitamin C is better for preventing colds, rather than helping you when you are sick. It is better to take medicines designed for colds and fevers instead!
Vitamin D is also good for maintaining good gut health. Healthy levels of Vitamin D are associated with a reduced risk of _____ cancer.
Colon cancer
Name the 4 fat soluble vitamins.
A, D, E, K
Vitamin A deficiency is common among people with _______ disease, which causes inflammation in the intestine.
Crohn's disease.
A lack of vitamin A can lead to an increase in the production of free radicals in the mucus lining of the intestine. This causes inflammation and abdominal pain.
What can you do if you are worried you aren't getting enough vitamins?
Talk to your doctor! They can tell you which supplements you need to take if necessary.
Or, you can also look up foods that can help boost your vitamin levels!
Vitamin C can also help maintain healthy teeth and gums by helping the body absorb _______.
Iron!
Fun fact: sailors back in the day commonly suffered from scurvy because they didn't have enough vitamin C in their diets. Having scurvy meant they had swollen and bleeding gums, and bruised easily.
True or false: older adults are at a greater risk for vitamin deficiency.
True! As you get older, your bones get more brittle and weaker. It is important to continue getting an adequate amount of Vitamin D to have good bone health.
Name 3 B Vitamins.
Niacin, Thiamin, Biotin, Folate, B6, B12, Riboflavin
Name 5 foods that are an excellent source of Vitamin A.
Sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, mango, butternut squash, eggs, beef, salmon
Name 5 foods that are an excellent source of B vitamins.
Salmon, leafy greens, liver/organ meats, eggs, milk, beef, oysters/clams/mussels, legumes, nutritional/brewer's yeast, sunflower seeds.
Name 5 foods that are an excellent source of Vitamin C.
Citrus fruits, broccoli, kale, red pepper, strawberries, papaya, tomatoes, cantaloupe.
Name 5 foods that are excellent source of Vitamin D.
Fatty fish, cod liver oil, eggs yolks, mushrooms, canned tuna, vitamin D fortified foods (milk, soy milk, orange juice, cereal and oatmeal)
What vitamin increases the bioavailability of iron?
Vitamin C