When it comes to the many vitamins manufactured today, there are only two classifications under which all vitamins fall: fat soluble or water soluble.
Knowing the difference between the two can be very important to know what to take, when to take it, and how much is too much.
The word soluble basically means something that can be dissolved. Water-soluble vitamins are dissolved in water. They get carried through the body and into the tissues, but they do not become stored in the tissues like fat soluble vitamins do. This means that the body uses what it can from these vitamins, and any excess is flushed out of the system through the elimination pathways in the body.
For this reason, water soluble vitamins must be replenished daily in order to continue getting the benefits they provide. This also means that the chances of toxicity, or taking too much, of a water soluble vitamin are virtually non-existent.
The water-soluble vitamins include the family of B Vitamins and Vitamin C. Each has its own function and job to do in the body.
• Biotin – assists in releasing the energy stored in carbohydrates and helps metabolize fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
• Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) – important for proper functioning of the nervous system, and to help release the energy from foods that are consumed.
• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) – helps keep eyes and vision healthy, converts certain amino acids, and releases energy from food.
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin) – involved in energy production, Niacin also aids in digestion and works to promote healthy skin and nerves.
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) – works to help red blood cell formation and metabolize protein in the system. Vitamin B6 also helps the body with production of insulin and hemoglobin.
• Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) – helps maintain the nervous system and production of red blood cells.
• Folate/Folic Acid – one of the most important vitamins manufactured that can help prevent neural tube defects in unborn babies. Folic Acid assists with red blood cell formation and can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
• Vitamin C – another one of the vitamins manufactured that is multi-advantageous to the body. It helps build collagen, which holds together muscles, bones, and other tissues.
Vitamin C also helps heal wounds, improves the immune system, increase iron absorption, and is a powerful antioxidant.
Though these vitamins can be flushed from the body, it is important to follow daily recommendations for dosage.
