The What You Should Know About Vitamins
What are Vitamins?
A vitamin is an organic compound required as a
nutrient in tiny amounts by our bodies. A compound is called a vitamin when it cannot
be produced by the body in sufficient quantities, and must be obtained from the
diet. All natural vitamins are organic
food substances found only in living things, that is, plants and animals. With
few exceptions, the body cannot manufacture vitamins. They must be supplied by
the diet or in dietary supplements. Vitamins are essential to the normal
functioning of our bodies. They are necessary for growth, vitality, health, general
wellbeing, and for the prevention and cure of many health problems and
diseases.
There
are 13 vitamins your body needs.
They
are vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin,
pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate).
Vitamins
are classified as either water-soluble or fat soluble.
In
humans there are 13 vitamins: 4 fat-soluble (A, D, E and K) and 9 water-soluble
(8 B vitamins and vitamin C).
Water-soluble - Water-soluble vitamins dissolve easily in water, and in
general, are easily excreted from the body. A persons urinary output is a
strong predictor of vitamin consumption. Because they are not readily stored,
consistent daily intake is important.
Fat-soluble - Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed through the intestinal
tract with the help of lipids (fats). Because they are more likely to
accumulate in the body, they are more likely to lead to illnesses due to elevated levels of these vitamins than are
water-soluble vitamins.
Vitamin A is
important for vision, reproductive function, and normal cell reproduction.
Beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A, helps to fight disease-causing free
radicals.
Vitamin B-1
(thiamin) processes carbohydrates into energy and is necessary for nerve cell
function.
Vitamin B-2
(riboflavin) helps the production of red blood cells and is important for
growth.
Vitamin B-3
(niacin) helps control cholesterol, processes alcohol, maintains healthy skin,
and converts carbohydrates to energy.
Vitamin B-5
(pantothenic acid) serves several bodily functions, such as converting fats to
energy and synthesizing cholesterol.
Vitamin B-6
(pyridoxine) is important in the production of hormones such as serotonin, dopamine,
and melatonin, as well as for processing amino acids.
Vitamin B-12 is
a crucial component of DNA replication and nerve cell regulation.
Vitamin C is
important in wound healing and acts as an antioxidant. It also helps the body
absorb iron.
Vitamin D
helps the body absorb calcium, which creates healthy bones and teeth. The body
can synthesize Vitamin D after exposure to sunshine,
Vitamin E
helps to combat free radicals, which can damage our cells.
Vitamin K is
what makes the blot clot. Our bodies produce some Vitamin K.
Deficiencies
of vitamins are classified as either primary or secondary.
There was a
time not long ago, when agriculture was young and the soil fresh, when you
could get the vitamins you needed from the food you ate. The food we buy at the
grocery store today is woefully deficient in the vitamins our bodies require.
A
primary deficiency occurs when the body does not get enough of the vitamin in
its food. A secondary deficiency may be due to an underlying disorder that
prevents or limits the absorption or use of the vitamin, due to a “lifestyle
factor”, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, or the use of
medications that interfere with the absorption or use of the vitamin. People
who eat a varied diet are unlikely to develop a severe primary vitamin
deficiency. In contrast, restrictive diets have the potential to cause
prolonged vitamin deficits, which may result in often painful and potentially
deadly diseases.
Dietary
supplements, often containing vitamins, are used to ensure that adequate
amounts of nutrients are obtained on a daily basis, because the majority of
people do not receive optimal amounts of nutrients through their diet. Scientific
evidence supporting the benefits of dietary supplements is well established
Proper dosage
The
best
way to ensure you receive the proper balance of vitamins is to take a
daily multivitamin. Unfortunately all multivitamins are not created
equal.
Beware a multivitamin if you look on the back of the label and see 100%
daily value on every vitamin listed. Vitamins are absorbed into the body
significantly different rates, depending on their composition and
solubility. Because it’s in
the pill, does not mean it is getting into your system.
In
all actuality, tablet vitamins can take up to 4-6 hrs to breakdown in your body
and only absorb at about 40% of what you put in. Tablet vitamins are full of
binders, fillers and lubricants, all stuff your body does not need and most of
which it can't break down and gets evacuated later. Capsule vitamins can take
about 45-90 minutes to break down and only 50% will be absorbed, and they still have binders
and fillers in them (including sawdust in some products). So in effect you’re
spending a dollar and your body is only using up to .50 cents of the product.
The multivitamin I use for all weight loss or health and wellness programs is a capsule that is cold pressed with plant cellulose for the fastest possible digestion, and the dose per vitamin, per capsule is design to be take three times a day for optimal vitamin balance.
The multivitamin I use for all weight loss or health and wellness programs is a capsule that is cold pressed with plant cellulose for the fastest possible digestion, and the dose per vitamin, per capsule is design to be take three times a day for optimal vitamin balance.
Some Vitamin Concerns
The
elderly, whose diets can sometimes be relatively poor, require a balanced
vitamin intake to be able to withstand the rigors of advancing years, and
everybody needs vitamins simply to remain alive and enjoy a longer life.
Without them our life processes slow down, and our bodies are subject to a
range of illnesses and conditions. Although vitamins do not provide energy,
they allow the body to process foods and create energy.
Pregnant
women need a balanced vitamin intake for a healthy fetus and all women of
child-bearing age should have a good intake of folic acid. People, who drink a
lot, whether it be water, juices or especially alcohol, should also take a supplement since they will tend to
wash out the water soluble vitamins. Most people fail to maintain a diet that
is balanced in respect to vitamin intake
which is why supplementation is so important.
However,
it is not good enough just to take vitamin supplements now and again: that does
not have the required effect of maintaining a constant satisfactory level
within the body. A REGULAR vitamin intake is necessary for the full benefit of
supplements to be obtained. Vitamins are not like medicines, to be taken only
when you are ill. They must be taken constantly.
Thank you.
John Cardinal
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