Vitamins 101

Let’s face it, even when we do our best to eat a balanced diet, it can be difficult to get all the vitamins and minerals necessary to keep our bodies healthy. So, many people take daily vitamins to supplement their diets. Daily vitamins may be particularly helpful for those with deficiencies, pregnant women, people with restricted diets or absorption issues, and the elderly. 

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Here’s what you need to know about types of vitamins, what they do and how to get what your body needs.

Types of Vitamins

When choosing a supplement, go with the format that best suits your lifestyle. Here are a few options:

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Vitamin Patches: Also called transdermal patches, vitamin patches are stickers that you press onto your skin using an adhesive. They slowly release vitamins through the skin into the bloodstream. Because patches bypass the digestive system, they may be a good method for those who have sensitive stomachs or who have a difficult time taking pills. 

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Capsules: Vitamin capsules offer nutrients in an easy-to-take, flavorless, sugar-free form. Without the need for fillers like sugar or gelatin, capsules tend to have more active ingredients than vitamin gummies.

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Gummies: Many people prefer vitamin gummies over other forms of vitamins, based on their great taste, ease of swallowing and convenience. Because they’re more enjoyable to take, you may have an easier time sticking to a consistent vitamin routine, which may result in reduced vitamin deficiencies overall.

The 6 Essential Nutrients

There are many vitamins and minerals that perform vital functions in the body, but some wellness sources narrow them down to the 6 essential vitamins, listed here: 

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• Vitamin A: Essential for vision, a robust immune system, and healthy skin and organs. 
• Vitamins B1-12 (also called B-Complex): B vitamins help your body convert food into energy, support nerve function, and may contribute to healthy skin, hair, and brain function.
• Vitamin C: Take vitamin C for a stronger immune system, and to support the production of collagen, which strengthens and repairs bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. As an added beauty bonus, vitamin C can help make your skin glow!
• Vitamin D: Regulates amounts of calcium and phosphate in the body, which are essential for strong bones, teeth, and muscles. 
• Vitamin E: Promotes healthy skin and eyes, and may strengthen the immune system.
• Vitamin K: The body needs vitamin K for healing, blood clotting, and healthy bones.

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Understanding Vitamins

There are 3 types of units used to measure amounts of vitamins and minerals in your supplement. Here’s what they mean:

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• Milligrams (mg): 1 thousandth of a gram.
• Micrograms (μg or mcg): 1 millionth of a gram. 1,000 micrograms equal 1 milligram.
• International Units (IU): commonly used to measure vitamins A, D, & E. The conversion of milligrams and micrograms to IU depends on the type of vitamins.

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