Frequently Asked Questions about Vitamins

“Hi. How are you?” That’s a question we get asked many times every day. And, really, how are you? Are you healthy? If you’re exercising, eating properly, and taking your vitamins, you’re probably doing well. But there are many questions surrounding the vitamin world these days. We’ll answer the top 10 vitamin questions here, to help you out in following a healthy program.

1. What are vitamins?

Vitamins are organic compounds needed by our bodies to keep them functioning properly. And although our bodies need vitamins, they don’t produce them – at least not enough to keep us healthy. Vitamins play an integral part in processing the nutrients in the food we eat, and distributing them to the appropriate areas in our bodies.

Some vitamins are used to keep our heart and nervous system in top running order. Some are used to extract what our bodies need, and convert the rest to waste. So basically, our metabolism needs vitamins to keep us healthy and alive.

2. Are all vitamins the same?

There are thirteen different vitamins, separated into two categories. First, there are the water-soluble vitamins: vitamin C, and all the B-vitamins, which include B6, B12, biotin, folic acid, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and thiamin. Being water-soluble, these vitamins dissolve, and are eliminated, fairly quickly. So you need to take them every day.

The other kind of vitamins, A, D, E and K, are fat-soluble vitamins, and are stored in certain parts of your body, like the liver. Each vitamin has a unique purpose and, although they’re all different, they work together to produce a healthy body.

3. What’s the difference between vitamins and herbs?

A balanced supply of vitamins and minerals is essential to maintaining a healthy body. Herbs also play a part in keeping us healthy, but they’re not the same thing.

Herbs are plants, and they have therapeutic or medicinal properties that help fight disease and keep our bodies functioning properly. So the basic difference between the two is that vitamins are required to keep us healthy, whereas herbs are not required, but are helpful.

4. What’s the difference between natural and synthetic vitamins?

When you’re buying vitamins, you need to be very aware of the labels. One that says it’s “natural”, may be made from only 10% natural sources – the rest is synthetic. And there’s a big difference when it comes to carrying out their function. You need natural vitamins if you want to reap their benefits.

Natural vitamins are derived from natural sources. And those are the ones that’ll perform best when you take them. That’s because the body isn’t designed to absorb anything that isn’t natural. Chemicals are foreign to your body, so synthetic, or chemically-produced vitamins, don’t get absorbed so, obviously, don’t do the job 
they’re meant to do.

5. What’s the difference between vitamins and minerals?

Vitamins and minerals both serve their individual purposes in maintaining good health. They’re both essential for proper functioning of the body’s systems. The major difference between them is that vitamins are organic, and minerals are inorganic.

While vitamins are stored in organs and soft tissue, minerals are stored in the bones and muscle tissue. But they’re equally important for preventing disease and keeping you healthy.

6. I eat healthy foods – do I still need vitamin supplements?

Unfortunately, there aren’t many foods these days that haven’t had the essential vitamins processed out of them. Organic foods are far better in keeping as many nutrients as possible, but some are still lost. For example, fruits start leaving vitamins the moment they’re picked. So when you’re buying organic fruit, it may be free of pesticides and additives, but it’s not as healthy as when it was first picked.

And that’s why, no matter how healthy you eat, you still need to take vitamin supplements regularly. That’s the only way you’re sure to get all the vitamins your body needs to function properly.

7. What if I don’t take vitamins?

Obviously, you’ll get some vitamins in the food you eat. After all, they haven’t completely processed them all out. However, to stay healthy, and free from disease, you definitely need to take vitamins.

If you don’t, you’re moving towards a slow death. Without the essential vitamins and minerals you body needs to function – well, it just stops functioning! You may not notice it on a daily basis, but eventually, it’ll catch up to you and you’ll be feeling gradually worse all the time.

8. Should children take vitamins?

Vitamins are important to a growing child’s body. They need to not only maintain their bodies, but also allow it to grow. Parents usually look out for their children, to make sure they eat properly. But, again, our food isn’t always a good enough supply of all the necessary vitamins. And it’s sometimes hard to get children to eat those vitamin-rich vegetables, like spinach and broccoli.

But it’s also important to know that the adult dose of vitamins is too strong for children. They can be stored in the body until they reach dangerous toxic levels. So children can take vitamins, as long as they’re children strength.

9. Can I take vitamins if I’m on medication?

Vitamins should never interfere with medication. However, with all the new drugs, with their sometimes unknown side-effects, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor before taking any kind of vitamins, minerals or herbs.

10. Can vitamin C really prevent colds?

Vitamin C obviously remains in the spotlight, as far as disease prevention goes. It’s been the subject of a lot of research, especially in relation to its effect on the common cold. Many vitamin C manufacturers used to claim their products prevented colds. However, that just wasn’t true.

Heavy doses of vitamin C may reduce the length and severity of cold symptoms, but that’s the extent of it. It absolutely does not prevent colds. But it does have some benefits. For example, smokers are advised to increase their intake of vitamin C, because smoking depletes the body’s supply.

In Conclusion

Vitamins play an important part in healthy nutrition. They’re essential to health and fitness, especially if you’re on a diet or weight loss program. Taking vitamins on a regular basis ensures you that your body is getting all the help it needs to function efficiently and maintain good, disease-free health.

The Internet is a good source of vitamins. You can get all kinds of vitamin combinations, specially prepared to help your body with specific areas of your health. You can get liquid vitamins, prenatal vitamins, and any other kind you need for a particular use.

So check out all the discount vitamins available online. And here’s to your health!