Know Your Vitamins

Since childhood, parents have been telling their kids about the importance of vegetables, vitamins and minerals. By now, you should have known that consuming vitamins is really an important part of your health.

Vitamins are essential nutrients, which the body needs in small amounts daily for it to work properly. However, two kinds of vitamins are consumed through food: water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins.

Water-soluble vitamins – These vitamins, such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, Pantothenic acid and vitamins B6, B12 and C, are not stored inside the body. That’s why it is important to consumer water-soluble vitamins frequently. If your body has more than you need, it automatically gets rid of the vitamins through the urine. Since your body doesn’t store these water-soluble vitamins, they are considered not harmful.

You can find water-soluble vitamins in grains, fruits and vegetables. However, these kinds of vitamins are easily destroyed by air exposure and heat. Therefore, when you cook or boil fruits, vegetables and grains, the vitamins are lost. To retain the nutrients in water-soluble vitamins, you could grill the food, instead of cooking or boiling.

Fat-soluble vitamins – These vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E and K, which are found in fatty foods like lard, butter, vegetable oils, liver, oily fish, dairy foods and animal fats.

Although fat-soluble vitamins are needed for maintaining health, it is not necessary to eat foods containing them daily. When your body doesn’t need the vitamins yet, they are stored in the liver or fatty tissues for use in the future. Therefore, once you need fat-soluble vitamins, there are in your stores for use. However, be aware that these vitamins can be very harmful in excess.

Vitamins, whether fat-soluble or water-soluble, are substances that should be a part of your diet because your body cannot produce them on its own. You need vitamins to prevent illnesses and maintain normal body functions.

Vitamins are available as liquid, pills, capsules and tablets. Since your body cannot produce them, vitamin supplements can boost the amounts of vitamins in your diet. However, if you are supplementing on vitamins, remember to eat a balanced diet with proper amounts of carbohydrates, protein and fats.

In choosing your vitamins, make sure the supplements you choose include vitamins B6, B12, D and E as well as folic acid. These vitamins are important because they are known to ward off heart disease and various kinds of cancer.

Standard vitamins can be purchased over-the-counter at affordable prices. If you’re not sure of supplementing on vitamins, you could consult your doctor for your specific needs.