We try so hard to stay healthy by eating right and exercising, and vitamins have proven to benefit our health immensely. Taking certain vitamins we need on a daily basis can help fill in the nutrient gaps in our diet and improve our well being. Vitamins benefit us by boosting our immune system to fight off illness, help our body function at its best, and develop through every stage of life we may be in. But did you know that it is possible to take too many vitamins? There are some vitamins you can take an endless amount of and not be phased, but there are some that if you take an excess amount you could cause issues like vitamin toxicity. The difference is that some vitamins are water soluble and others are fat soluble. Here we will explain the difference between the two and how they work inside your body.
Water soluble
Put in simple terms, water soluble vitamins are absorbed quickly into your body and the excess that your body doesn’t need at that time is flushed out through your urine. Our bodies are a very high percentage of water and if you imagine dropping a water soluble vitamin into a glass of water and it quickly dissolving, that is similar to what happens inside our body. Since they can be dissolved so quickly that means you must consistently take them as they are not stored in your body for a long period of time. Most vitamins are water soluble, some that are familiar or more common are Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, and Vitamin C.
Fat soluble
Fat soluble vitamins can potentially be dangerous if taken in excess. They are absorbed by the body at a much slower pace compared to water soluble vitamins and instead of your body purging the excess it doesn’t need, it stores it in your liver. Fat soluble vitamins, just like the name, are absorbed by fat; and then slowly disbursed into your body through the bloodstream. The amount of time it takes for your body to absorb the nutrients provided in the vitamin, it takes just as long for the left over to exit the body. This is why it could be dangerous to take too many fat soluble vitamins. Your body will store the excess vitamin in your liver and by continually taking it but not using it, you can cause it to build up and overwork itself. The most common fat soluble vitamins include Vitamin A, D, E, and K.
In reality, there is no such thing as a “bad” vitamin. You should just be cautious to the frequency you take vitamins and be sure that it is one your body actually needs. The best way to ensure you are getting the best vitamin and nutrient intake is to maintain a healthy diet. The saying, “everything is good in moderation” applies to even the healthiest of habits.
