should you be taking vitamins?

Since all essential vitamins are found in the food you consume, do you need to take a vitamin supplement? 

If you are relatively healthy, unless you have a health condition limiting your body’s ability to absorb certain vitamins from food, then eating a well-rounded diet should provide all the vitamins your body needs. So the answer is no you do not need to take a vitamin supplement.

However, many of us don’t always eat as we should. It is just how daily life unfolds sometimes. This is where a high quality vitamin supplement can help fill the nutritional gap. Any supplement you decide to consume should be taken mindfully and with less frequency than you think.

If you do take a Vitamin Supplement, should it be taken Everyday? 

The answer to this question is likely no. 

Because our bodies absorb and expel vitamins at different rates, vitamins are broadly classified as either Fat-Soluble or Water-Soluble.

Since water-soluble vitamins aren’t stored in the body, they need to be replenished more frequently. However, when you take too much of a water-soluble vitamin (as many people do), your body quickly releases the excess in your urine. If you’ve ever noticed that your urine is a brighter yellow after taking a vitamin, it’s likely because you’ve consumed too much vitamin B2.

Likewise, because fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body, it’s not necessary to supplement these everyday. In fact, it can be dangerous to take too many fat-soluble vitamins. 

Water-Soluble Vitamins

The water-soluble vitamins include Vitamin C, and the B Complex Vitamins. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water, which means they are not stored in the body. They enter the bloodstream and anything that the body doesn’t need will be eliminated through urine. This means you are basically flushing the money you spent on these vitamins right down the toilet. It is just not necessary to take too much of these vitamins.

Instead consider consuming a variety of vegetables including leafy greens and fruits. Vegetables and fruits contain the water-soluble vitamins your body needs.

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Fat-soluble vitamins are more like oils and do not dissolve in water. These vitamins are absorbed by the fat globules traveling through the small intestines and are distributed throughout the body via the bloodstream.

Unlike water-soluble vitamins, excess fat-soluble vitamins are not eliminated from the body like water-soluble vitamins. Instead, they are stored in the liver and fatty tissues and can remain there for months until they are needed in the body. 

The fat-soluble vitamins include Vitamins A, D, E, and K. If you take these vitamins, take them sparingly.

Fat-soluble vitamins are found in high-fat food sources like eggs, dairy, fish, and beef. Consider eating these foods regularly instead.