Millions of people around the world use vitamins and ingest the coinciding minerals with them, but not many actually know what vitamins truly are or their exact benefits. The definition of what a vitamin is essentially quite simple. They are substances that are vital to your body and mind. They are not made by your body itself and you must provide your body with these nutrients to survive. In truth, the body only needs a small amount of each vitamin but without it, the consequences can be severe.



There are two main types of vitamins, fat-soluble and water-soluble. All vitamins and nutrients are organic and they all contain oxygen, hydrogen and carbon. While there are many different forms and types of vitamins, there is a strict process that must be adhered to before any substance is determined to be a vitamin. It must be proven that the substance, when removed from the diet, can cause deficiencies and or disease.

Fat-soluble vitamins and water-soluble vitamins have some clear and distinct differences. Water-soluble vitamins thrive on water. They are absorbed into the bloodstream directly and can move easily and quickly throughout the body. If you ingest more of these vitamins than your body needs, it will simply be passed through your body via your urine. Accordingly, there is no real danger in taking too much of these vitamins or overdosing in any way. You must ingest quite a bit of these vitamins as they are not stored in any part of the body.

On the other hand there are fat-soluble vitamins. They do not flow as freely through your system and often need help from proteins to transport them around the body. These vitamins are stored in the fatty tissue of the body and if taken in substantial doses they can give off some negative side effects. Therefore you need to ingest them much less than water-soluble vitamins as they are not passed through the body nearly as quickly.

The main fat-soluble vitamins are A,D,E and K. The most common water-soluble vitamins are B and C. The benefits of such vitamins are quite vast. Vitamin B is a source of energy for your metabolism and the production of blood cells within the body. Vitamin C is a very powerful antioxidant and helps assist your body in absorbing other nutrients. The A vitamin can benefit a number of things, your vision, development, growth and assist your immune system. Vitamin E is one of the most powerful antioxidants there is and can prevent many types of disease and prevent cell damage. Vitamin K gives the body essential proteins that can prevent blood clots and overall give your cells and body more strength.

Be sure to seek proper medical advice if you are unsure of the supplements or vitamins that you are taking. Dietitians will be able to give you proper advice on the exact dosage to consume for maximum benefits.