Why Your Body Needs Vitamins
What do riding a bike, solving a math problem, and taking a nap all have in common?
They’re all impossible to do without the proper vitamin intake. For example, vitamin C builds strong bones that help us exercise. Vitamin E helps improve our cognitive abilities. Vitamin D powers the hypothalamus, which helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle. Without a proper supply, the body cannot execute these functions and might even lead to a wide array of health issues.
At Dare to Be Different, we want to make it as easy as possible for you and your family to maintain a balanced diet. We don’t believe you should have to resort to vitamin supplements, which is why we load our crusts, crumbs, rice and more with the nutrition your body needs—and the taste your mouth craves.
Vitamin A
Let’s start our rundown of the vitamins you need to live a healthy life at the top of the alphabet. Vitamin A is important for maintaining one’s vision, promoting healthy skin, and supporting the body’s immune system—you’ll soon see that all of these vitamins help your immune system in major ways.
Things get bad fast without vitamin A. The body cannot form nor maintain teeth, skeletal tissue, or mucous membranes. An extreme deficiency can lead to an increase of risk for infectious disease and even night blindness.
Looking to increase your vitamin A intake? It’s easy as A, B, C—for more vitamin A, eat more broccoli and carrots. Making the swap from 60-second rice to Dare to Be Different Broccoli Veggie Rice could give your eyes the boost they need.
Vitamin C
You probably remember your parents topping off a full glass of OJ before school, but did we really need to polish off a glass to help us get through the day?
Yep!
Oranges are jam packed with vitamin C, and your body has several needs for it. First, vitamin C is a potent antioxidant. These compounds protect the body from free radicals, harmful molecules that cause cellular damage. Vitamin C is also needed for the synthesis of collagen, a protein that helps maintain healthy skin, hair, bones, and cartilage. Finally, this powerhouse vitamin helps your body fight off infections by enhancing the absorption of iron.
Besides oranges, strawberries and kiwi are great sources of vitamin C; vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and cauliflower are, too. Next time you’re cooking with bread crumbs, swap them for Dare to Be Different Cauliflower Crumbs and your body will be giving you an A+ in vitamin C.
Vitamin D
As cool as it would be if humans could survive by photosynthesis—the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy—we simply can’t. However, we can produce vitamin D, simply by getting a little more sun.
Sounds easy enough, but whether you’ve got too much work on your plate or it’s been raining all day, there are some days when we can’t get outside. That’s where fatty fish and egg yolks can help in a pinch.
Don’t sleep on vitamin D. Not only can it help regulate your sleep cycle, a deficiency can lead to inflammation and, in extreme cases, rickets or osteoporosis.
Vitamin E
Did you ever think getting your vitamins could be as delicious as eating a bunch of chips? It is now, thanks to Dare to Be Different Broccoli Crisps, which come loaded with vitamin E and are an excellent addition to a health-conscious diet.
Broccoli isn’t the only way to get more of this fat-soluble antioxidant. Nuts, seeds, and spinach are all rich in vitamin E. These foods assist in the body regulating immune function, skin health, and cellular communication. Like other vitamins, vitamin E helps reduce inflammation during the body’s natural healing process.
Vitamin K
Our final vitamin for today is a bit unique. Vitamin K regulates your body so everything keeps running smoothly, as opposed to vitamin A or vitamin C that help you grow healthy tissue or vitamin D or vitamin E that reduce inflammation.
Vitamin K activates proteins that cause blood coagulation—aka how your body prevents excessive blessing when injuries occur. Vitamin K also regulates calcium deposition in bones and prevents calcium from depositing in blood vessels.
We’re not sure if you and your kiddos love vitamin K, but we can imagine you probably love pizza. Next time you’re in the mood for a cheesy bite, try a Dare to Be Different Cauliflower Crust packed with, you guessed it, vitamin K.
Searching for Vitamin-Rich Food?
You’re in the right place! Dare to Be Different has plenty of delicious and nutrient-dense treats for you to enjoy.
Check out our full lineup of products and recipe inspiration for your next weeknight dinner.
