Your Simple Guide To Different Types Of Vitamins

A balanced, healthy diet is not complete without some essential vitamins and minerals. If you want a healthy life, make sure your meal plan consists of plenty of fruits, vegetables and other main food groups! Or, to further safeguard your intake, consider taking specific vitamin supplements.

Vitamin supplements are of two types; multivitamins and individual vitamins. Before deciding which one to take, ensure you speak to a dietitian to access your nutritional needs. In this article, you’ll find your simple guide to different types of vitamins.

What are individual vitamins?

Dietitians typically prescribe individual vitamins to prevent or treat specific nutrient deficiencies. The term individual vitamins refer to vitamin supplements tailored to address a particular nutrient deficiency.

Dietitians often place people with vitamin deficiencies on restrictive diets that consist of individual vitamins. For example, people with a vitamin C deficiency take individual vitamin C supplements to correct the disorder.

Most common types of vitamins

There are 13 vitamins that are essential to your health. These vitamins produce enzymes and hormones that ensure the proper functioning of your nerves and organs. In addition to boosting your immunity, vitamins are essential for the growth, maintenance, and regulation of bodily processes.

Vitamins fall under two main categories; fat-soluble vitamins and water-soluble vitamins. There are four fat-soluble vitamins; vitamins A, D, E, and K. The remaining nine are vitamins that are water-soluble. This includes Vitamins C, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12.

What are multivitamins?

Multivitamins are supplements that contain varying amounts of vitamins and minerals. Sometimes, they have ingredients like fatty acids, amino acids, and herbs. Given that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all to multivitamins, their nutrient composition differs by brand and product.

The nutrients in multivitamins are often derived from natural or synthetic sources. Multivitamins are available in supermarkets, online stores, and pharmacies. They usually come in various forms, including chewable gummies, liquids, powders, capsules, and tablets. Keep in mind that some vitamin supplements may contain ingredients that can diminish the potency of medications.

Why take multivitamins?

The most significant reason why you should take multivitamins is to complement an unbalanced diet. As we mentioned earlier, multivitamins may not be suitable for everyone. Older adults may benefit from taking multivitamins that contain vitamin B12, calcium, and vitamin D. Similarly, vegans and vegetarians are susceptible to becoming deficient in vitamin B12, vitamin D, fatty acids, calcium, iron, and zinc because of their plant-based diets.

Dosage is a critical aspect to consider when taking multivitamins. While excessive intakes are suitable for some people, high amounts can be harmful to many others. Remember that you could exceed your recommended dosage by incorporating multivitamins and nutrient-dense foods into your meal plan. To mitigate excessive intake, ensure you consult a doctor to determine the appropriate dosage suitable for you.