When you see information about vitamins, you often see the word “essential” right before “vitamins.” Have you ever wondered why? Actually, it is quite simple. Our bodies require vitamins and minerals to function at optimum efficiency. It is interesting, then, that our bodies are unable to produce most vitamins and minerals on their own. Instead, we have to get these necessary vitamins and minerals from outside sources.

Vitamins are found naturally in many of the foods we eat, since they are organic compounds. You can also get vitamins in the form of a vitamin supplement. Thirteen amazing vitamins are considered necessary to perform crucial functions in the body, such as providing protection against infection and disease, helping the body to grow, assisting the body’s metabolism, and removing waste products.

The body uses vitamins a bit like building blocks. It puts all the different building blocks together in different combinations to make the hormones and enzymes that control things like heart rate, glucose levels, blood pressure, and other chemical reactions.

Can I have too many vitamins?

Over the years, guidelines have been formulated for the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for each vitamin and mineral. These take into account a person’s age, gender and current health status. A pregnant woman, for example, needs a certain combination of vitamins to protect the fetus from birth defects. An adult man requires different types and amounts of vitamins than an adult woman. In addition, the nutritional requirements of children, adolescents and the elderly are quite different.

Food basically acts as fuel for your body. If you give your body the best type of fuel, it will be able to function at optimal levels. Give it dirty or bad fuel and you will start to notice a drop in performance levels.

What happens if I don’t have enough vitamins?

Vitamin deficiencies tend to grow over time, so the first signs may be barely noticeable. However, in the future they can lead to serious health problems. Not enough people eat a nutritionally balanced diet these days. It is common for adults to have very poor eating habits. Healthy, natural foods have been replaced by processed foods, high-fat foods, fast food, and restaurant food.

Unfortunately, we are unable to take a look inside our bodies and see what exactly is wrong thanks to our poor eating habits. Most people don’t even think about what they’re eating until they start to gain weight and it becomes very noticeable. Excess weight is often one of the last signs, and by the time you notice the extra weight, there could already be serious problems inside.

Lack of vitamin C can cause tiredness, weakness, muscle pain and bleeding gums. If you’re low on vitamin D, you can end up with weak or possibly even misshapen bones. Insufficient vitamin E can cause the destruction of vital red blood cells. In extreme cases, vitamin deficiencies can even lead to death.

If you are concerned that you are missing some essential vitamins due to poor eating habits, then a vitamin supplement may be a good way to fill in the gaps. The only way to know for sure if your body isn’t getting enough vitamins is to have a blood test. In general, though, if you think you may not be getting enough vitamins, you’re probably right. Try a daily multivitamin supplement and you may be surprised at how much better you feel overall.