VITAMINS

What are Vitamins?

Vitamins are organic compounds (made by plants or animals) the body needs in small quantities for proper functioning. Only small amount of vitamins are needed because the body uses them without breaking them down.

It is good for us to know that there two categories of vitamin which are Fat Soluble Vitamins and Water Soluble Vitamins.

Fat soluble vitamin (Vit A, D, E and K) is the classification of vitamins that are stored in fat cells when excess is present. They can stay in the body as reserves for days.

Water soluble vitamin (Vit C and B complex vitamins) need to dissolve in water before your body can absorb them, thus, your body can't store these vitamins. Any vitamin C or B that your body does not use as it passes through your system is lost (mostly when you urinate). So you need a fresh supply of these vitamins daily.

Occasionally, Vitamins go by different names which include:

• Vitamin A = retinol, retinaldehyde, retinoic acid
• Vitamin B1 = thiamin
• Vitamin B2 = riboflavin
• Vitamin B6 = pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine
• Vitamin B12 = cobalamin
• Vitamin C = ascorbic acid
• Vitamin D = calciferol
• Vitamin E = tocopherol, tocotrienol
• Vitamin K = phylloquinone

Daily intake of diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fortified food will probably get you all you need. But supplements do offer an easy, just-in-case form of health insurance.

In as much as supplements are forms of insurance please check with your doctor before taking vitamin supplements or better still let your doctor know the supplement you have in mind.

There are hundreds of supplements in the market and of course their manufacturers want you to purchase them. Beware of unverified claims about the benefits of taking more than recommended amounts of any vitamin and be 100% sure of the credibility of company producing the supplement(s) you are purchasing…I am 100% sure of the ones I buy, won’t mind telling you *winks*

The best way of getting the vitamins you need is to eat a wide variety of healthy foods.

Stay Healthy, Live Healthy!!!

NOTE: Please feel free to share knowledge here. Professionals in the medical field are encouraged to enlighten people more through this blog. Thank You.