Everyone is taking vitamins these days. The supplements have become quite popular in developed nations. People use them to bolster their health. But are vitamin supplements the best way to maintain your health, or is there a better way to combat your body’s vitamin deficiency?
Understanding Vitamins
Vitamins are organic substances. Even though many people take them as pills, they can be found in various plants and animals. Before you begin your search for the right vitamins for your body, you must first determine whether you want water-soluble or fat-soluble vitamins. They are not the same.
Water-Soluble
These vitamins pass through the body easily and freely before the kidneys eventually excrete them. Your body requires frequent doses of water-soluble vitamins. Though, the quantities should be small. They include:
- B1 – This one affects energy metabolism. You can find the vitamin in legumes, pork, and cereals, to mention but a few.
- B2 – This one also aids in energy metabolism. While your body’s nerve functions are affected by the presence of Vitamin B1, B2 affects your skin and vision. You can get it from leafy green vegetables, cereals, milk-related products, etc.
- B3 – Along with the health of your skin, this vitamin is important to the nervous and digestive systems. You can get it from peanut butter, cereals, asparagus, mushrooms, fish, chicken, etc.
- B6 – This one is concerned with the production of red blood cells. You can get it from vegetables, chicken, fruits, fish, etc.
- B12 – This one affects the production of new cells. It also matters to your body’s nerve functions. It comes from milk, meat, eggs, milk-related foods, etc.
Other water-soluble nutrients include folic acid, which affects the production of new cells, biotin which affects energy metabolism, and pantothenic acid, which is also important for energy metabolism.
One of the most famous vitamins is Vitamin C. This one is concerned with protein metabolism and the immune system. You can get it from lettuce, tomatoes, citrus fruits, vegetables, etc. In truth, you can get the most water-soluble vitamins from a wide variety of food items. Though, many of them provide vitamins in small amounts.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins
Your body doesn’t require these vitamins as frequently as their water-soluble counterparts. They are stored in the cells. As such, they don’t pass through the body quite as easily. You have to take them in the appropriate amounts. Taking too many vitamins of this variety can make you sick. They include:
- A – This one affects the skin, tooth growth, and the body’s immunity. You can get it from dark orange fruits, cheese, butter, sweet potatoes, leafy green vegetables, etc.
- D – This vitamin assists in the body’s calcium absorption. It is found in liver, egg yolk, fortified milk, etc.
- E – This one is an anti-oxidant, and you can get it from leafy green vegetables, liver, nuts, seeds, corn, etc.
- K – This vitamin helps with blood clotting. It is found in kale, broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, etc.
What Happens When You Don’t Get Enough Vitamins?
Vitamin deficiencies are associated with a variety of illnesses, including scurvy, blindness, and rickets. Of course, the illness will depend on the type of deficiency. For instance, if you don’t have enough Vitamin A, you may suffer from night blindness.
A Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause anemia whereas a Vitamin K deficiency can lead to excessive bleeding for those with injuries. People that don’t get enough B2 can expect to have bad skin. A B1 deficiency, on the other hand, can lead to beriberi, an ailment that produces weak muscles. The body can survive on small doses of vitamins. But if you fail or refuse to provide those small amounts, your health will suffer.
Should You Buy Vitamin Supplements Online?
Vitamins on the internet are available in various forms. You can get them as pills, powders, or even liquids. However, as many pharmacy reviews will tell you, online pharmacies are not always safe. You have to keep certain factors in mind:
❶ First of all, the FDA doesn’t regulate supplements. As such, you won’t find any FDA-approved vitamins on the internet. This makes the process of identifying reliable vitamins online quite difficult. You cannot always trust pharmacy reviews.
❷ Secondly, vitamin supplements are not for everyone. For instance, pregnant women are discouraged from using them. The same goes for people on blood thinners and heart medication, not to mention any patient using a treatment that lowers their immune system. You should talk to your doctor before taking vitamin supplements.
❸ Don’t be so quick to fall for melodramatic promises. Many pharmacy reviews have warned against websites that sell supplements that can miraculously cure deadly diseases. Don’t trust such ridiculous promises.
Whenever a legitimate organization introduces a powerful supplement, they back their claims with credible research that they do not hesitate to publish for all the skeptics to review. Make sure that any vitamin supplement that claims to cure an illness has scientific backing.
❹ You don’t need vitamin supplements. You can get what you need by eating a balanced diet that includes everything from fruits to vegetables and whole grains.
If you think you need a specific vitamin that you cannot acquire from your diet, talk to your doctor. They will vet your claims to determine whether or not they are true. If they think you need vitamin supplements, they will make a specific recommendation.
Conclusion
The body needs vitamins. They can boost your immune system, giving you the tools you need to repel diseases. This is the reason why people take them whenever they feel unwell.
Vitamins come in a variety of types. You don’t need them in large doses to improve your health. However, a deficiency can make you sick, exposing you to ailments like scurvy and beriberi. Fortunately, you can get all the vitamins you need from your meals, especially if your diet is balanced.
If you must, you can always buy supplements from the internet. But you should talk to your doctor beforehand. Vitamin supplements can do more harm than good for some people.
