Supplementing Your Vitamin Needs

Vitamins

In order for the body to perform and function properly we need essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals. 

Vitamins are organic substances, which means they're made by plants or animals. The best way to get vitamins is by eating a balanced diet, rich in lean proteins, grains and legumes, as well as colorful fruits and vegetables. 

In an ideal world, you could get all the vitamins you need from food. Due to the quality of soil that much of our food comes from, and the impracticality of eating a diverse and nutrient rich diet every single day, this is unattainable for most. Vitamin supplementation in this case becomes key. 

The most common vitamin supplements include:

Vitamin D which you have probably heard of in the last year because it has been shown to be a cofactor in COVID related illnesses when not in high enough supply in the body. Vitamin D helps the body to absorb other nutrients properly and stimulates health in many ways in the body, especially in terms of bones and the nervous system. Vitamin D is often absorbed from the sun so it can become especially important in the winter months. 

B vitamins which play an important role in the growth of cells and the metabolism of food, as well as increasing brain function and energy.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps the body heal and promotes healthy tissue. You may have heard about sailors in the 18th century developing scurvy which is a result of insufficient vitamin C. This disease is characterized by swollen bleeding gums and the opening of previously healed wounds.

Vitamin A is another nutrient that is important for overall health and helps maintain healthy vision and reproductive health among other things. 

This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the vast array of vitamins the body needs. You can, however, rest assured, if you eat a diet that includes plenty of whole, natural foods along with leading an active lifestyle it will be difficult to become deficient in vitamins. 

You must keep in mind that while you may be within the RDA (recommended daily allowances) for certain vitamins, you can improve your health by increasing your intake and getting closer to the UL (tolerable upper intake) in order to get to the next level.