Casimir Funk

Hello. My name is Casimir Funk, and I was a scientist. Being a scientist is a lot like being a detective, but instead of solving mysteries in books, I solved mysteries about our bodies. I wanted to know why some people felt very tired and sick when others felt strong and full of energy. I had a big idea that the answer was hiding somewhere special. I thought the secret might be hiding in the food we eat every day.

I started my detective work by looking very, very closely at different foods, like yummy brown rice. I discovered something amazing. Inside the food, there were tiny little helpers that our bodies need to work. I learned that these helpers give us energy to run and play. I realized that some people were getting sick because their food was missing these important little helpers. Their bodies needed the helpers to feel good, and they weren't getting enough of them.

After I found the tiny helpers, I knew they needed a name. I decided to call them 'vitamins'. Isn't that a fun word? Vitamins are in so many of the foods you eat. When you munch on a crunchy carrot, you are eating vitamins that help your eyes see all the beautiful colors in the world. When you drink a glass of orange juice, you are getting vitamins that help your body stay healthy and keep the sniffles away. Eating healthy food is a fun way to find all the vitamins.

I lived to be 83 years old. My big idea about vitamins still helps people all over the world stay healthy. Every time you eat a colorful fruit or a green vegetable, you are giving your body the tiny helpers it needs to grow big and strong. You are helping your body, just like I discovered so long ago.