It’s quite a sensitive & complex subject, as such we will do our best at providing a clear and concise article to clear any doubts you may have.
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).
What Are Vitamins?
A vitamin is an organic compound, which means that it contains carbon.
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. Water-soluble vitamins Water-soluble vitamins do not stay in the body for long and cannot be stored.
Because of this, people need a more regular supply of water-soluble vitamins than fat-soluble ones. Vitamin C and all the B vitamins are water-soluble . The Department of Health and Human Services provide up-to-date guidelines detailing the best ways to get enough nutrients from the diet.
Fortified foods and supplements may be appropriate in some cases, however, such as during pregnancy, for people with restricted diets, and for people with specific health issues. Anyone taking supplements should be careful not to exceed the maximum dose, as research shows that taking too much of any vitamin can lead to health problems. Also, some medications can interact with vitamin supplements.
Various supplements are available for purchase online.
Function
There are 13 essential vitamins. This means that these vitamins are required for the body to work properly.
They are:
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Vitamin B3 (niacin)
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)
Pantothenic acid (B5)
Biotin (B7)
Folate (folic acid or B9)
Vitamins are grouped into two categories:
Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body’s liver, fatty tissue, and muscles. The four fat-soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E, and K. These vitamins are absorbed more easily by the body in the presence of dietary fat. Water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body.
The nine water-soluble vitamins are vitamin C and all the B vitamins. Any leftover or excess amounts of these leave the body through the urine. They have to be consumed on a regular basis to prevent shortages or deficiencies in the body.
The exception to this is vitamin B12, which can be stored in the liver for many years. Some vitamin-like nutrients are also needed by the body such a.