Why Is it Necessary for Humans to Eat Vitamins?

Vitamins are an important aspect of body functioning and well-being. Food intake may not be enough to supply your body with what it needs. Supplements have become a vital component to overall health.

Features

• Vitamins are nutrients found in living plants and animals. Most vitamins can't be produced by the body itself, so humans must consume vitamins through the foods we eat or through vitamin supplements that are extracted from natural foods.
  There are two types of vitamins: fat soluble and water soluble. Fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) are absorbed, moved through the body and stored in body fat and in the liver. These are found in meat products, dairy products, fish, oil and animal fat. Water soluble vitamins (B, C, and folic acid) are moved through the body in water. These vitamins do not store well in the body and are usually eliminated via urine. These must be consumed every day through fruit, vegetables, whole grains, fish and meat.

Function

• Vitamins help to keep the cells in your body strong and functioning properly. They also help bind bodily tissues, fight infections, assist with brain functioning, and regulate metabolism by converting carbohydrates and fats into energy your body can use. They assists with the formation of bones and body tissue, and help regulate hormone production. Overall normal body functioning depends on adequate vitamin intake.

Vitamin Deficiency

• It is difficult to consume all the vitamins needed through food alone, especially since food processing and the aging of food, mostly fruits and vegetables, lowers the vitamin content in foods. Smoking and alcohol consumption also detracts from the absorption of important vitamins.

  Health problems can result from not taking in enough vitamins. Depression, fatigue, insomnia, body aches, anemia, and bleeding gums are just some of the things that can result from vitamin deficiency. Consult a health care provider if you have concerns.

Warning

• It can be dangerous to consume too much of any particular vitamin. This is especially an issue with fat soluble vitamins because they are stored in body fat and not quickly excreted.

  Consult the NIH or USDA for nutritional guidelines, or a health care provider for the specific doses of each that are right for you. Find links in Resources for more information.

Considerations

• Taking vitamin supplements with food is the best way to optimize absorption and to avoid passing the vitamins too quickly through the body. Make sure to keep the vitamins in a cool, dark, dry place or a refrigerator.