A very small percentage of us are actually getting the necessary vitamins and nutrients that we need from our diets. Getting the most out of life means feeling healthy, and full of energy.
We take vitamins and supplements to hit our peak performance. Learn more about vitamins vs supplements, the difference between them, and how they can help you.
Vitamins vs Supplements
Are vitamins and supplements the same thing? The terms are often used interchangeably, though there are significant differences between the two.
Whether you are shopping for vitamins, or supplements, buying quality products makes all the difference. Remember, not all vitamins and supplements are created equal.
Vital Vitamins
What are vitamins? Simply put, vitamins are micro-nutrients found in food.
There are 13 essential vitamins that the human body needs:
- A
- B1- Thiamine
- B2- Riboflavin
- B3- Niacin
- B5- Pantothenic Acid
- B6- Proxidine
- B7- Biotin
- B9- Folate
- B12- Cobalamin
- C
- D
- E
- K
Whether your diet is Vegan or Carnivorous, or anything in between, the body’s needs are the same.
Benefits of Vitamins
A healthy balanced diet of organic foods can provide you with essential vitamins. However, it is not always as easy as it sounds. And, eating vitamin-rich foods does not always amount to the levels of daily vitamin intake that our body needs.
C & B vitamins are water-soluble, whereas the others are fat-soluble. What that means is that fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body’s fatty tissue, whereas the water-soluble vitamins are expelled from the body during urination.
Super Supplements
What are supplements? Supplements may include vitamins, but may also have other elements blended in. And, that is where they differ from vitamins.
Supplements are dietary ingredients other than the 13 essential vitamins. In supplements, you may find a blend of vitamins, herbs, minerals, amongst others.
Benefits of Supplements
We take supplements to “supplement” a variety of deficiencies such as protein, iron, calcium, etc.
Iron, for example, is not a vitamin, but a mineral. We need iron to carry oxygen through our blood. If we are not eating enough iron-rich foods like leafy greens and other veggies, and red meats in our diets we can take an iron supplement to aid our body’s healthy function.
Sold in different forms, supplements are offered in pills, powders, liquids, and extracts. The same supplement that comes in a variety of forms will be absorbed by the body differently.
It Does the Body Good
Does the body need to take vitamins and supplements? Though every body is different, most could benefit from some type of supplements outside of their daily food intake.
Some people believe they should only get their nutrients and vitamins through the consumption of healthy foods, and not through taking vitamins, while others base their lifestyle around them.
Without vitamins, your body would show deficiencies in ways from subtle to painfully obvious. A lot of people are reaching for Vitamin B Complex Tablets as a way to ensure that they’re keeping their brain function sharp, and energy levels up.
Whatever It Takes
Discussing vitamins vs supplements teaches us more about what they are, what our body needs, and what we should be taking in addition to a healthy balanced diet. What are your favorite vitamins & supplements?
