What are vitamins?

Vitamins are organic compounds that are required nutrients for the body to function correctly. An organic chemical that in essential to the body that must be obtained through your diet or other external processes is considered a vitamin.

There are two types of vitamins. Water-soluble or fat-soluble.

• Water-soluble: These vitamins dissolve easily in water and are readily excreted form the body. Water-soluble vitamins need to be consumed daily because they cannot be stored in the body. This also means that you cannot take too many of water soluble vitamins because your body will just get rid of whatever it doesn’t need.
• 1. All B Vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12)
  2. Vitamin C



• Fat-soluble: These vitamins are absorbed through the intestinal tract by the lipids (fats) present there. Your body has the ability to store these vitamins; therefore you are more likely to accumulate dangerous amounts of them if you take them too often.
• 1. Vitamin A
  2. Vitamin D
  3. Vitamin E
  4. Vitamin K

The best way to ensure that you are obtaining your daily allowance of vitamins during your weight loss program plan is to maintain a diet of healthy foods with a vitamin supplement. There are many foods that are acceptable to consume while cutting calories that are packed full of nutrients and vitamins. For example fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins that are needed daily.

Many metabolic processes, including the production of energy, are dependent on vitamins and minerals.

Cutting Calories? You’re Not Getting Needed Nutrients

All foods contain vitamins in some capacity, but it is best to eat foods that have a higher concentration of a variety of vitamins. To supply your body with necessary nutrients you need to consume more than 2000 calories a day. It your diet requires you to consume less than this amount, it will be impossible for you to get the vitamins and minerals your body needs to function.

Fat-soluble vitamins

Fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies are easily developed while dieting because most foods that are full of them also contain fats and oils. Most diets cut out fatty and oily foods out very first.

If you are avoiding whole milk or other dairy products, vitamin A and vitamin D levels will decrease drastically. To prevent these levels from dropping, try and eat other foods that are high in these vitamins. You can find vitamin A in meat and liver, carrots, spinach, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Vitamin D can be found in fish and you can also obtain sufficient vitamin D from the sun if you are outside enough.

Your body needs vitamin E and vitamin C in largest quantities. The best way to make sure you get enough vitamin E is by taking it in supplement form.

Water-soluble

B vitamin deficiencies can occur when bread is being avoided. However, you can obtain B vitamins from meats, raw nuts, dried fruits and green vegetables.

A large source of vitamin C is from potatoes. If you are avoiding starchy foods on your diet, try and eat green vegetables and plenty of fruits that are high in vitamin C.

Conclusion

Vitamins are vital to maintain proper bodily functions. When you diet, you need to make sure you are still getting proper amounts of vitamins. If you are not getting enough nutrients, your body will not function properly and you can become very unhealthy.