Why Vitamins?

By RAJGOPAL NIDAMBOOR

Photo Courtesy: http://1.bp.blogspot.com

Vitamins are a group of organic nutrients, found in plants and animals. They are also called essential vitamins. They are essential to regulate the chemical processes that go on in the body -- they help release energy from food, maintain strong bones, and also control hormonal function.

There are two types of vitamins: water-soluble and fat-soluble.

Water-soluble vitamins [ B-complex vitamins and vitamin C] are easily absorbed by your body. Unlike fat-soluble vitamins, they don’t have to be absorbed using bile acids -- fluids used to digest fats. Our body does not stockpile large amounts of water-soluble vitamins. The water-soluble vitamins, which we do not need, or present in excess, are eliminated by our kidneys and passed through urination.   

Our body has to use bile acids to absorb fat-soluble vitamins [A, D, E and K]. Once these vitamins are absorbed, our body stores them in body fat. They are summoned from the storage areas as and when needed.

Each of the essential vitamins has a specific activity in the body. They are essential for good health and well-being, vitality and energy, growth and longevity.

What leads to illness or specific deficiency disease is the absence or improper absorption of a certain vitamin, or a complex of the essential nutrient. Another big downside is -- a normal person may have a minor deficiency without even being aware of it.  It is only when the symptoms surface, does one think of, or get diagnosed, for the problem. Not otherwise.

It was until recently observed that if one ate healthy foods or diet, there’s no need to take vitamin/mineral pills. Research today suggests that even if people consume healthy diets, there’s a need to take a multivitamin pill each day, especially in adults.

Vitamins are not just needed to keep deficiency diseases, such as rickets and scurvy, at bay. The incorporation of a good vitamin-nutrition diet, on a daily basis, is crucial to prevent and also avert the onset of chronic diseases -- e.g., osteoporosis, cancer, and heart disease.

How Much Is Good Enough?

It is quite well-known that some people are deficient in key nutrients -- most notably vitamins and minerals. Though it is not clear whether deficiencies contribute to certain diseases, or there are extra-nutritional demands imposed by certain diseases or ailments, it makes sense for adults to take an adequate intake of select nutrients. The most useful nutrients are vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, aside from minerals such as boron, selenium, and zinc.

It would also make sense for you to eat a balanced diet and/ or combine a multivitamin supplement that offers all the nutrients to your diet -- with their appropriate doses provided and taken care of.  

However, it would be wise to also exercise caution while taking supplements, because excess dosage may increase other health risks.

For instance, high vitamin A intake could harm auto-immune activity, just as much as excess daily doses [> 100 milligram] of zinc may lead to detrimental changes in blood cholesterol.

The best thing to do is to seek the advice of a therapist, and embark on a supplement, or a choice of supplements, that offers you the best possible outcome -- for good health and healthy longevity.

In a nutshell, here’s what each vitamin does and can do for you -- to maintain and promote good health. You can also use it as a benchmark -- and, know where you currently stand vis-à-vis your nutritional needs: