Your Vitamins + Minerals

Allah’s Medicine Chest: Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins are invisible organic compounds made up of carbon and hydrogen. They can be found in all foods. Vitamins are essential for the metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in order to form body tissues, and to provide the energy we need at the cellular level. In order for the correct absorption of vitamins by the body, vitamins should be obtained from the foods we eat although some vitamins are obtained from bacterial synthesis within the intestines, or the skin in the presence of sunlight/oils etc. Vitamins like all life are interdependent, and require the presence of other vitamins/minerals/metals within the body in order to facilitate its function. The liver, the largest organ in the human body is responsible for the storage and metabolism of vitamins. The bile from the liver is responsible for the absorption-metabolism of fat soluble vitamins.

Vitamin A is important for the formation of the bones, teeth, hair and skin, and helps in the repair of bodily tissues and organs, maintenance of night vision, the level of moisture in the mucous linings of the throat, nose, lungs, and mouth. Vitamin A is also important for the formation of rich blood, and helps the digestive system to assimilate proteins properly.

Zinc, calcium, and vitamin B complex help in the body’s ability to absorb vitamin A.

Alcohol, coffee, mineral oil and excessive iron intake cancels any benefit of vitamin A.

Foods containing Vit A include:

Cereals – Bran, cornmeal, oatmeal, soy flour, whole wheatDairy – Blue cheese, cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, Swiss cheese, real butter, cow’s milk, egg yolk, goat’s milk, skimmed milk, yoghurt, sour cream, real ice creamFruits – Apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, dates, figs, gooseberries, grapefruit, grapes, guava, juniper, lemons, mango, nectarines, oranges, passion fruit, papaya, peaches, pears, pineapples, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangerines, watermelon.

Herbs and Spices – Cayenne pepper, oregano, garlic, chives

Meats – Chicken, duck, goose, turkey

Seeds/Nuts – Cashews, mesquite, pecan nuts, pistachios, pumpkin (lib), sesame, sunflower, walnuts.

Seafood – Cod, Crab, haddock, halibut, herring, mackerel, salmon, sardines, shrimp, tuna.

Vegetables – Asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cassava, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, corn, cucumber, eggplant (aubergines), green beans, kale, kidney beans, leeks, lentils, lima beans, lettuce, mushrooms, okra (bamya), olives, onions, potatoes (unpeeled), parsley, parsnips, peas, peppers, plantain, rhubarb, spinach, squash, sorrel, tomatoes, turnip greens, watercress.

Other Vitamins
Vitamin B Complex
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
Biotin and PABA
Folic Acid and Pantothenic Acid
Inositol
Choline
Iron
Calcium
Magnesium
Phosphorus
Potassium

Iodine

Sources:
Colbin, A. “Food and Healing” Ballatine Books. 1986, U.S.
Hoffman, D. “The Holistic Herbal” 1988. Element Books, U.K.
Fourie, P.C., Basson, D.S. “Sugar Content of Almond, Pecan, and Macadamia Nuts”. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf00091a020
Nutrition Data http://nutritiondata.self.com/
Rain, M.S. “Earthway.” 1990. Pocket Books, U.S.
Whole Foods http://whfoods.org/sitesearch.php

Related Topics
Allah’s Medicine Chest: Lemons
Allah’s Medicine Chest: Garlic
Allah’s Medicine Chest: Oranges
Allah’s Medicine Chest: Almonds
Allah’s Medicine Chest: Shea Butter
Allah’s Medicine Chest: Turmeric (Curcuma Longa)
Allah’s Medicine Chest: Strawberries (Fragaria vesca)
Allah’s Medicine Chest: Dates (Phoenix dactylifera)
Allah’s Medicine Chest: Pumpkin (Cucurbita Pepo)

Allah’s Medicine Chest: Basil (Ocimum Basilicum)

Allah’s Medicine Chest: Figs (Ficus Carica)

Allah’s Medicine Chest: Fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare)

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