Pregnancy is a unique experience in the life of a woman. At the time of pregnancy, women need to take nutrients like folic acid or folate, iron and calcium in increased quantities. Vitamins and minerals such as folic acid, iron and calcium are essential for normal fetal growth and development. They are also essential for healthy adults. Prenatal supplements that contain variety of minerals and vitamins are used to meet the daily requirements of a pregnant woman.

Why are prenatal vitamins necessary?

About 50 % of birth defects can be avoided, if pregnant women take prenatal vitamins before pregnancy. Your diet cannot give you the required quantity of folic acid that the fetus requires during pregnancy. At the time of pregnancy you have to eat for 2 persons including your baby. So it is necessary for you to take prenatal vitamins at that time. You can ensure the future health and well being of your baby if you take prenatal vitamins as early as 3 months before becoming pregnant.

What are the vitamins required by a pregnant woman?

A pregnant woman needs to have multivitamin supplements especially Folic Acid, Iron, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C as 100% beta-carotene for proper growth and development of the fetus.

Folic Acid, which is a part of the vitamin B family, is crucial for a healthy pregnancy and fetal development. The risk of birth defects such as spina bifida, neural tube defects and other defects like congenital heart conditions can be reduced by taking folic acid. Neural tube defects are very serious birth defects but they are also relatively common ones.

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Vitamin C is known as Ascorbic Acid. Vitamin C works by helping to create and maintain collagen, which is a protein that improves our body’s ability in absorbing iron. Vitamin C has various benefits. It supports a wide range of our body structures. It is also essential for the formation of teeth and bones. Most animals are capable of creating vitamin C of their own. However, humans lack this capability and they have to get those vitamins by consuming vitamin C rich food.

What are the functions of vitamin C?

Vitamin C is essential for the growth and repair of tissues in our body. Vitamin C is essential for forming collagen which is an important protein used for making skin, tendons, scar tissue, blood vessels and ligaments. Vitamin C is also necessary for wound healing. It is also required for the repair and maintenance of teeth, bones and cartilage.

Like beta-carotene and Vitamin E, Vitamin C is also an antioxidant. Antioxidants can block the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are by-products, which are formed when our body converts food into energy.

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The skin is the largest organ in our body. Just like any other organs in our body the skin also requires appropriate nutrition for functioning properly. If you are deficient in vitamins it may result in lifeless, dull and blotchy skin. Many people lack those vitamins and minerals, which are essential for the proper functioning of our body. However, it is to be noted that too much of minerals or vitamins can be extremely dangerous and toxic.

What are the various vitamins required for a healthy skin?

The vitamins that are essential for a healthy skin are

Vitamin A with carotenoids

Vitamin A prevents acne and makes the protective tissue of the skin stronger. It also helps in reducing production of the sebum. Vitamin A is necessary for the repair and maintenance of the tissue that makes the mucous membranes and the skin. Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant for flushing out the free radicals and toxins from our body. In fact vitamin A deficiency can cause acne. The Suggested dosage for fighting acne is 10,000IU. The dosage intake should not exceed 5000 IU if you are pregnant.

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Good nutrition is very essential for you to have healthy hair. You need several vitamins and minerals for healthy hair growth. A vitamin deficient diet can lead to hair loss problems. Researches say that good nutrients and vitamin supplements improve the growth and appearance of hair. The thickness, sheen and strength of the existing hair also get improved. Thus vitamins are very essential for preventing hair loss

Do you need vitamins to prevent hair loss?

Yes, the importance of vitamins for hair loss is as follows

• Vitamins help in blocking the DHT production. DHT is considered to be the major cause for hair loss.
• Vitamins rejuvenate damaged hair follicles and promote healthy growth of hair.
• Vitamins make a good environment for hair growth.
• Vitamins give your scalp appropriate nourishment.
• Vitamins aid healing of dried and damaged hair.

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Vitamins can be taken in both pill and liquid form. The liquid vitamins get assimilated as soon as they are swallowed. When compared to vitamin pills, liquid vitamins assimilate much faster. This is because vitamin pills are made up of fillers, binders and preservatives which take much time for the pills to assimilate. Vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin C, Vitamin K etc are available in liquid form. Moreover they are also available in a wide variety of flavours and also as multi-vitamins. They are also available in a combination with other nutrients that make them a versatile source of nutrition.

Are liquid vitamins available in different flavors?

Most of the people use liquid vitamins as an alternative for pills, because pills do not taste good and it is difficult to swallow and digest. This is especially true in the case of children and elderly people. Liquid vitamins are available in a variety of flavors.

Are liquid vitamins accepted all over the world?

Researches found that liquid vitamins get assimilated immediately into the blood stream because of their form. The average absorption rate is approximately 80 to 90% when compared to 10-20% for the pills. The reason is that liquid vitamins get absorbed directly into the blood stream and into the cell. It is also much concentrated than vitamin tablets which lead to a higher bio-activity and greater therapeutic benefits.

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