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and minerals are nutrients your body needs in small amounts to work properly and stay healthy. Most people should get all the nutrients they need by having a varied and balanced diet, although some people may need to take extra supplement.
What Are Vitamins?
Having too little of any particular vitamin may increase the risk of developing certain health issues.
A vitamin is an organic compound, which means that it contains carbon. It is also an essential nutrient that the body may need to get from food.
Fat-Soluble And Water-Soluble Vitamins
Vitamins are either soluble, or dissolvable, in fat or water.
We describe both types below: Fat-soluble vitamins Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble. The body stores fat-soluble vitamins in fatty tissue and the liver, and reserves of these vitamins can stay in the body for days and sometimes months. Dietary fats help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins through the intestinal tract.
Water-soluble vitamins Water-soluble vitamins do not stay in the body for long and cannot be stored. They leave the body via the urine. Vitamin C and all the B vitamins are water-soluble .
Vitamin supplements Many people in the United States take multivitamins and other supplements, though these may not be necessary or helpful, according to research . A balanced, varied diet that contains plenty of fruits and vegetables should be the primary source of vitamins. The Department of Health and Human Services provide up-to-date guidelines detailing the best ways to get enough nutrients from the diet.
When Is The Best Time To Take Supplements?
Are You Getting What You Need?
Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients because they perform hundreds of roles in the body. There is a fine line between getting enough of these nutrients (which is healthy) and getting too much (which can end up harming you).