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The Best Vitamins for Bacteria

To survive and thrive, human beings need vitamins. They impact a person's ability to ward off illness-causing bacteria, as first hypothesized by Hopkins and Funk in 1912. Of the 13 different types of vitamins recognized by the U.S. Center for Disease Control, some are more effective at protecting the body from illness by boosting the immune system.

  1. Vitamin A

    • Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A.

      Known as the vitamin that helps maintain good eyesight and healthy skin, vitamin A is also essential for a healthy immune system. The outer membranes that line the nose, throat and other external cavities need vitamin A to stay moist---making them better at trapping germs that try to invade the body. The U.S. Center for Disease Control also recommends vitamin A as a good way to develop immune-boosting enzymes that strengthen internal organs. Vitamin A comes in two forms---retinal, found in animal sources like beef liver and chicken---and beta-carotene, found in plant sources like carrots, spinach and mangoes.

    Vitamin C

    • Doctors recommend vitamin C to fight colds and flu.

      While vitamin A is the body's armor in keeping bacteria away, vitamin C is the body's weapon against the bacteria that manage to get in. Doctors recommend vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, for colds and flu because they help the body produce interferon---a protein that kills viruses. Interferon also allows cells to communicate and work together to eradicate pathogens, and in some cases, tumors. Good sources of vitamin C include guava, red and green peppers and oranges.

    Vitamin E

    • Sunflower seeds are the best whole food source of vitamin E.

      Building up the body's supply of white blood cells is crucial to fighting disease. Vitamin E makes it possible for white blood cells to multiply by producing an immune-boosting protein called interleukin-2, which fights viruses and bacteria. According to the National Cancer Institute, interleukin-2 is also effective in treating some cancers.

      Vitamin E is also a powerful antioxidant, which means it prevents cellular oxidation---a chemical reaction inside the body that damages cells that carry oxygen to vital organs, like the heart and lungs. When those cells are damaged, it prevents oxygen-rich blood from getting to the heart, which can lead to heart disease. To keep the body's cardiovascular system healthy, doctors recommend eating foods rich in vitamin E, like sunflower seeds, almonds and spinach.

    Vitamin K

    • Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin A, E and K.

      Vitamin K is essential to help the body clot blood. Deficiency in vitamin K can cause excessive bleeding of the nose and gums, internal hemorrhaging, liver disease and osteoporosis. Ironically, the best source of vitamin K comes from intestinal bacteria that form naturally in the body. The U.S. Center for Disease Control recommends all newborns receive vitamin K injections because their intestines are not yet fully formed and there is not enough vitamin K in breast milk to sustain them. Dietary sources of vitamin K include beef liver, green tea and foods containing chlorophyll, such as broccoli, kale, spinach and asparagus.

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