• Raspberries contain vitamins that help to repair the body and guard against infections.raspberries image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
  
  Raspberries are comprised of small fruit-containing seeds (drupelets) organized around a hollow cavity. Raspberries prevent damage to cell membranes and other bodily structures, and combat excess waste that may be harmful to the body. Raspberries work actively as antioxidants by repairing damage done by by-products, and may help to protect against diseases such as cancer and macular degeneration.
  
  

Vitamin A

• Vitamin A, also called Retinol or Cartenoids, helps to protect the body against infectious disease and problems with vision. Specifically, vitamin A maintains the health of teeth, mucous membranes, skeletal tissue, soft tissue and skin. The Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine recommends a daily intake of 700 to 900 micrograms for adolescents and adults. Intake recommendations depends on age, gender and other factors. An overdose of vitamin A can cause illness, birth defects and temporary change in skin color.
  
  

Vitamin C

• Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin (dissolves in water) necessary for the growth and repair of tissues in the body. It is used to heal wounds and to maintain the health of cartilage, bones and teeth. Vitamin C is also vital for the production of the protein collagen which is used by the body to make skin, tendons, blood vessels, ligaments and scar tissue. Additionally, it works as an antioxidant and combats harmful by-products that are released when food is converted into energy. Because the body neither manufactures nor stores vitamin C, the Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine recommends that it be consumed everyday in a quantity of 70 to 95 micrograms per day for adolescents and adults. Lack of vitamin C causes deficiencies such as gingivitis, dry skin and hair, a decrease in healing rate, swollen joints and nosebleeds. High doses of vitamin C can cause an upset stomach or diarrhea.
  
  

Vitamin K

• Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin (dissolves in fat) that can be stored in the fatty tissues of the body. It is necessary for blood clotting, a process where blood near a wound is solidified to minimize blood loss. Though vitamin K is produced by bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, the Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine recommends a daily dosage of 75 to 90 micrograms a day for adolescents and adults. Vitamin K deficiency occurs when the body cannot absorb vitamin K from the intestinal tract, which causes extended bruising or bleeding if a wound is contracted.