diet

This vitamin is easily broken down during the cooking process so care must be taken during food preparation. Also, because it's water soluble, the body can hold on to only small quantities. Since it is constantly being lost during food preparation and via the urine stream, it is important to continually resupply Folic Acid.

Like the other B-vitamins, Vitamin B9 plays a role in the body's ability to metabolize fats, proteins and carbohydrates so they can be converted into energy. But Folic acid benefits the body in many other ways, too.

Also called Pantothenic Acid, this one vitamin is used by literally all of the functions the body performs. Vitamin B5 is a water soluble vitamin and it's one that's in abundant supply.

How does this all-important vitamin benefit the body? To begin with, like the other members of the B-complex family, Vitamin B5 has a major role in the metabolism process that converts carbohydrates, fats and proteins into energy. That alone is a lot.