Vitamins
What are Vitamins Exactly?
Vitamins are substances that are considered essential for life-sustaining functions in the body, and are classified as either water-soluble or fat soluble.
Water soluble vitamins are those vitamins that dissolve in water and as such are not stored in the body, but eliminated in the urine. These water soluble vitamins must be consumed on a daily basis. Examples of water soluble vitamins include vitamins C and the B complex with comprises of eight water soluble B vitamins.
Fat soluble vitamins, on the other hand, are those that are dissolved in fat before they are absorbed by the blood stream to become useful to the body. Excesses of these vitamins are stored in the liver, and are therefore not needed on a daily basis. Examples of fat soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, K and E. Because these vitamins are stored in the body, excess consumption can become toxic.
How Do I Get My Daily Supply of Vitamins?
While a multi-vitamin tablet might look like a nice easy way to down those vitamins so you don’t have to concentrate on eating all the food groups, these are synthesised and bound together in a way that makes them difficult for the body to access. It’s like giving your taste buds a candy without moving the wrappe
While multivitamins are fine as an additional supplement to a healthy and balanced diet, it won’t make up for major dietary deficiencies. A more satisfying dietary supplement would be an organic source of vitamins which are bound together in a natural form that your body finds easy to digest, such as wheatgrass, spirulina, barley grass or chlorella. Again, it’s best not to rely on these supplements to make up for major deficiencies in the diet.
Where do I get my hit?
The best way to make sure you are getting your daily supply of vitamins is to pump up the amount of organic, fresh fruit and veggies you are consuming every day. Frying, boiling and baking vegetables kills a lot of the vitamins, particularly the water soluble ones, so make sure you are getting a lot of fresh veggies too. Incorporate freshly chopped strawberries and bananas with your cereal in the morning. Fruit salads also make a tasty dessert with a spoonful of yoghurt of iced confectionery.
Legumes, grains and pulses also contain essential vitamins. If you eat animal products, then small amounts of lean meat, fish, eggs and milk also help to maintain healthy levels of vitamins within the body. As with the fruit and veggies, go organic where you can since foods grown in organic environments contain higher levels of vitamins. Animals fed organic grains will also be better for you.
Want to feel Vital? Make sure you are getting your vitamins!!!
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