Do you? Yes. To maintain good and vibrant health, we all need to eat vitamins too. Every bite of an apple, strawberry, papaya or juicy water melon delivers some amount of vitamin goodness to us. But what exactly are these substances and how much do I need to be healthy?

Vitamins are naturally occurring (organic) chemical substances found in food and fruits which are required in very small amount to maintain important chemical functions in the body. They're also available in the form of vitamin supplements.

Interestingly, as important as vitamins are, the body lacks the ability to manufacture most on its own. Instead, it must rely on outside sources to meet its nutritional needs.

Vitamins are a lot like cement or mortar needed in building blocks. A healthy body is able to put these blocks together to create the enzymes and hormones that, among other things, control heart rate, blood pressure, glucose levels, hair texture, skin smoothness, fertility and other chemical reactions. Some vitamins in high dose can even be used in curing diseases. An example is the use of vitamin A in the treatment of acne.

There are 13 important vitamins useful to the body. These are divided into two main groups: fat or water soluble. What's important is that the body is able to store fat soluble vitamins but not water soluble vitamins.

The fat soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E and K, are absorbed through the large intestines. For this absorption process to work properly dietary fat must also be present.

Water soluble vitamins, on the other hand, are not stored in the body. Because the body isn't able to store these vitamins these vitamins must be constantly re-supplied. As water soluble vitamins enter the body, they are put to work. The excess is eliminated from the body via the urine. The vitamins that make up the water soluble category include the B vitamins, Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) and Vitamin H or B7 (Biotin). The B vitamins are responsible for several crucial bodily functions. They are divided into Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) Vitamin B7 (Biotin) Vitamin B9 (Folic acid) Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin).

Join us as we discuss in greater detail the various vitamins, minerals, trace elements, which food item contains what vitamin, natural supplements , herbal supplements , diseases associated with vitamin deficiencies , vitamin overdose , and all you need to know about vitamins and supplements.

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