Functions of vitamins.

Vitamins help provide you with good health by regulating the metabolism and helping with the chemical processing that release energy from digested foods. Vitamins are either water soluble or oil soluble. Water-soluble vitamins are vitamin C and B-complex. They should be taken daily since they are not stored and are removed from the body within one to a few days. Vitamins A, D, E, K are oil-soluble vitamins and can be stored for longer periods of time in the body’s fatty tissue and the liver. You need both types of vitamins for your body to function properly.

Vitamins the differences between synthetic and natural.

Vitamin supplements can be divided into two groups synthetic and natural. Synthetic vitamins are made in laboratories from chemicals. These chemicals reflect those found in nature. Natural vitamins are made from food sources. Which are better? There are no major chemical differences between the two, however, the synthetic supplements have isolated vitamins only, while the natural supplements have other nutrients.

My body has been able to digest and absorb natural vitamins over the synthetic. For this reason I do not consider vitamins that are not natural. Because they may contain coal tars, artificial coloring, preservatives, sugars, and starch as well as other additives. Make sure you always check the labels since even the natural vitamins may not be extracted from natural food sources.

When choosing vitamins, there have been studies showing that protein-bonded vitamins like those found in natural whole food supplements are absorbed, used and held in the body’s tissues better than supplements that are not protein-bonded.

Vitamin supplements work best taken with food. Oil-soluble vitamins should be taken before meals and water-soluble ones should be taken after meals unless specified.

Vegetables and Vitamins

Vegetables and the vitamins they have are: Broccoli has vitamin A, B1, B2,  B6, and C. Tomatoes have vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and C.  Cucumbers have vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, and C. Spinach has vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and C. Zucchini has vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and C.  Kale has vitamin A, K, B6, and C. Carrots have vitamins A and K. Alfalfa has vitamins B, C, E, K.