Find out More about Your Body Vitamin Absorption Abilities

• Optimal vitamin absorption can depend on several factors
• A vitamin C deficiency can occur if you do not eat sources of this vitamin daily
• Vitamin absorption methods will depend on the vitamin type

The vitamin absorption abilities of your body are amazing when working properly, but it is important to understand that there are some vitamins which rely on other vitamins or minerals for optimum absorption into your body, and the best bioavailability to your cells and processes. Vitamins, just like minerals, are needed to provide nutrients, and they play an important part in every process that your body performs each and every day. Vitamins come in two types, water soluble and fat soluble, and a deficiency of water soluble vitamins such as a vitamin C deficiency from your diet can have serious health effects.

Water soluble vitamins are vitamins which need water in your system to go through the vitamin absorption process. Without water your body can not absorb these vitamins at all, and they will just pass through you. It is almost impossible to take too much of this vitamin type, because these vitamins are flushed out of your system every day, and must be replaced daily in your diet. This is why many foods are fortified with water soluble vitamins, to ensure you get the recommended amount daily of these nutrients. Water soluble vitamins include B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, and C. These vitamins require water to dissolve in, so it is important that you drink enough water every day to ensure the best absorption of these vitamins.

Fat soluble vitamins are the other vitamin type. These vitamins differ from water soluble vitamins because they require fat in the body for vitamin absorption. These vitamins are not excreted every day, but instead are stored in the fat cells of your body until needed. This allows you to go a day or two without eating these vitamins as long as you have enough of them stored in your fat cells to meet the needs of your body. You must include some forms of healthy fats in your diet so that vitamin absorption will occur with fat soluble vitamins. These vitamins are A, D, E, and K.

Vitamin absorption can depend on other factors as well, because some vitamins or minerals can affect others adversely. A vitamin C overdose can affect copper levels in your blood and impair the absorption of this mineral. Vitamin D is essential for optimum calcium absorption, so that you have strong bones and teeth. Taking too much of any vitamin, regardless of the type, is not a good idea. Even water soluble vitamins that are excreted daily can build up if a large dose is taken at once, or even throughout the day. Fat soluble vitamins can have serious health consequences if taken in very large doses, because they store up in your liver and body fat. This can cause your liver to become damaged and cause a variety of other medical problems, depending on the specific vitamin taken. Vitamins act together, and too little or too much of one can cause problems with your body absorbing others.

Many people take a multivitamin and mineral supplement every day, to ensure that they get enough of all the vitamins they need. This may be a good idea if you eat an inadequate diet, but the best and most nutritious way to get all the vitamins you need is to eat a healthy balanced diet with a wide variety of foods in every color of the rainbow. This will maximize your vitamin absorption and prevent any vitamin shortages, such as a vitamin C deficiency. Having all the vitamins your body needs for the best function and health is important, and a balanced diet and plenty of fluids, with some heart healthy fats thrown in, will ensure that your body can absorb all the nutrients from the foods that you eat each day.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.