Vitamins and Vitality: 4 Interesting Facts About Vitamins

Do you have a healthy and balanced diet full of all of the vitamins and minerals that you need?

While the average American diet contains an adequate amount of our required vitamins, not everyone has enough of the nutrition that they need. This is where supplemental vitamins come in.

Not sure what you should be taking? While we don’t have a complete list of vitamins and their functions, we’re here to offer advice. Keep reading to learn some interesting facts about vitamins that might lead you in the right direction.

1. Vitamin D Can Help With Depression

Do you ever feel low during the winter months when the sun is only out for a few hours per day? This is referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD) and it’s pervasive in areas where the skies are dark for most of the day.

We get a lot of our vitamin D from the sun. When we don’t have time in the sun and our diets aren’t adequately supported by vitamin D we may end up with a deficiency.

There is evidence to suggest that vitamin D supplementation can increase energy levels and reduce anxiety and depression symptoms.

2. B-12 Boosts the Brain

B12 is an important vitamin that’s found in animal products. It’s important for improving the health of your bones and preventing the loss of neurons in the brain. It might also have mental health benefits.

Those who are deficient in b12 may find themselves feeling sluggish. While most people get adequate b12 from their diet, vegetarians and vegans who aren’t eating animal products need fortified foods or supplemental vitamins.

If you’re constantly fatigued and not getting b12 from your diet, try taking supplemental b12 for energy.

3. Folate Is the Key to a Healthy Pregnancy

You may notice that prenatal vitamins have a lot of folic acid or folate. Why is this? And why are prenatal vitamins suggested for anyone trying to conceive or of childbearing age?

Folate is crucial for the developing fetus. A lack of folate can cause neural tube defects like spina bifida and it can result in low birth weight or even stillbirth.

While folate is available from “natural” sources, it’s easily depleted through cooking. This means that potential childbearing adults should be eating fortified foods or adding folate supplements to their diets.

Folate is so critical to the growth of the fetus that it should be taken before the parent even knows that they’re pregnant.

4. Vitamin C: A Health Powerhouse

Drinking orange juice to avoid getting a cold isn’t just an old wives’ tale. This vitamin packs a punch when it comes to your health!

There’s evidence to suggest that vitamin C helps to prevent chronic illnesses as well as serious conditions like heart disease. It’s great for your immune system.

Vitamin C is also what helps your body to absorb iron. This means that those with iron-deficiency anemia may benefit from an introduction of vitamin C instead of excess iron.

Exciting studies show that vitamin C may improve your mental capabilities. Studies show that people with dementia have lower levels of vitamin C. Vitamin C may help you stave off cognitive impairment as you age! This vitamin is the one to take if you want to protect your overall health.

Have These Interesting Facts About Vitamins Convinced You?

Many of us don’t know any of the interesting facts about vitamins, or even what they’re for. We eat a balanced diet and maybe pop a multivitamin and call it a day. If you knew more about the vitamins that you’re taking would you pay more attention to what you’re consuming? We think so.

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