A little about VITAMINS

Weekends are normally days where we tend to indulge in food that maybe we would not have eaten during week days. 

And I am NOT and exception to this rule. 
This is why I like to plan ahead and made sure I get all the essential vitamins and minerals that the body needs. To get all the essential nutrients in one meal or two meals is a challenging quest. This is the reason for which I tend to "complete" my meals with a VITAMIN WELL drink ( http://www.vitaminwell.se ). 

Today I decided to complete my lunch with a VITAMIN WELL CONTROL, as I will be going out for dinner and then out dancing. This is also the drink I tend to have before my workouts as it aids the metabolism and correct functioning of the muscles. 

VITAMIN WELL CONTROL  is sweetened with stevia and is enriched with vitamins B3, B5, B6, B12, biotin(B7), manganese and vitamin D. It has no sparkles (which is a bonus as fizzy drinks make me really bloated) a mild taste of lemon and lime. 
Here is a simple explanation about these vitamins and minerals that will help you understand why I decided to have this drink tonight and why I drink this it before my workouts: 

B VITAMINS : B- vitamins consist in 11 water soluble vitamins that have many essential roles in the organism. They are essential for the bodies functioning and their key role is the out winning of energy in the cellular respiration and in the digestion of macro nutrients.

B vitamin deficiencies can cause : anxiety, premenstrual syndrome, fatigue and depression. 

B3 : Has a role in energy transfer reactions in the metabolism of glucose, fat and alcohol.  

B5: Is responsible for the oxidation of fatty acids and carbohydrates. 

B6: Is involved in the cellular metabolism of amino acids and fats, as well as the synthesis of neurotransmitters,  and hemoglobin. It also has a role in the gluconeogenesis, a process that consists in creating glucose from free fatty acids and amino acids. 

B7: (Biotin) has a key role in the metabolism of lipids (cholesterol) , proteins and carbohydrates.

B12: Its essential for the development of blood cells in the bone marrow ( girls make sure you are not lacking it B12 and B6 for the production of blood cells!) but also in the cellular metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. 

D vitamin :  is actually not a vitamin,but a steroid hormone, responsible for increasing the uptake of calcium and phosphate, giving it an important role in bone and teeth health. It also plays a role in the correct functioning and in increasing muscle strength. A lack of vitamin D causes fat infiltration in the muscle tissue, impacting the muscle strength and the correct functioning. This vitamin is not essential as it can be synthesized by the body in exposure to sun together with cholesterol. But it can also found in food such as:  eggs (2 eggs give you 25% of the daily recommended intake), mushrooms, meat, dairy,and in high in fat fish (like salmon, mackerel and tuna) . Most of us have vitamin D deficiencies , with out even knowing it, especially in Scandinavia, due to the lack of sun. I always make sure that I get my daily recommended vitamin D intake, either from supplements (taken with food to aid absorption) or from Vitamin well. 

Manganese: is a mineral that aids :the metabolism and digestion of proteins , functioning of the nervous system, formation of the thyroxine hormone, and the production of sex hormones. Just like the above mentioned vitamins, most of are deficient this mineral. It can be found in :nuts, green leafy vegetables, peas, beets, egg yolk, whole grain cereals, bruits and black tea. 

Make sure you get your vitamins every day !