The 13 Essential Vitamins and How They Keep You Healthy
In this video, learn how the 13 vitamins keep your body healthy + the best way to get all the nutrients you need from food.
Vitamins are grouped into two categories: fat-soluble vitamins and water-soluble vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins are most readily absorbed when ingested with dietary fat. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble vitamins.
The other nine vitamins — that’s vitamin C and all the Bs — are water-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins must be absorbed right away. Whatever isn’t absorbed will just pass through your urine. Making sure you’re getting all the 13 vitamins every day can be tough. Your best bet? Eat at a well-rounded diet full of fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, and whole grains. That way, your body will get the nutrients it needs to function — and you can be your best self from the inside out.
References
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. (2021). Biotin.
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. (2021). Niacin.
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. (2021). Pantothenic Acid.
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. (2022). Riboflavin.
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. (2021). Thiamin.
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. (2023). Vitamin A and carotenoids.
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. (2023). Vitamin B6.
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. (2023). Vitamin B12.
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. (2021). Vitamin C.
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. (2022). Vitamin D.
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. (2021). Vitamin E.
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. (2022). Folate.
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. (2021). Vitamin K.
Shibata, K., et al. (2014). Relationship between urinary concentrations of nine water-soluble vitamins and their vitamin intakes in Japanese adult males. Nutrition and Metabolic Insights.
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