Vitamins

Vitamins

Vitamins—tiny nutrients that make a big difference in how your body works.

Step 1: Two Types of Vitamins

There are two main groups of vitamins:

1. Water-Soluble Vitamins
2. Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Think of it like this: one group washes out quickly (water-soluble) and the other sticks around longer (fat-soluble).

Step 2: Water-Soluble Vitamins

💧 What it means:

• Found in the watery parts of food.
• Travel straight into your blood when you eat.
• Extra mounts? Your kidneys flush them out in urine.
• You need to eat them regularly since your body doesn’t store much.

🔑 Examples:

• B Vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12)
• Vitamin C

⚡ Jobs they do:

• Help release energy from food (most of the B’s).
• Help build proteins and new cells (B6, B12, folate).
• Help make collagen (Vitamin C) for skin, blood vessels, teeth, and bones.

Step 3: Fat-Soluble Vitamins

🥑 What it means:

• Absorbed with fat in food.
• Travel through your body with help from proteins.
• Stored in your liver and fat tissue for later use.
• Don’t have to be eaten every day—but you can get too much if you overload on supplements.

🔑 Examples:

• Vitamins      A, D, E, K

⚡ Jobs they do:

• Build strong bones (A, D, K).
• Protect vision (Vitamin A).
• Help vitamins work together (E helps your body use Vitamin A).
• Protect your cells as an antioxidant (Vitamin E).

Step 4: Key Takeaway

• Water-soluble = use it or lose it 💧 (eat daily).
• Fat-soluble = store it for later 🥑 (don’t overdo it).