Every pure element or compound is a substance. A substance is matter which has a specific composition and properties.
They are substances required by our body to perform its functions. They are used to produce energy, respond to environmental surroundings, move, excrete, waste, breathe, grow and reproduce. We call them nutrients. Nutrients that contain Carbon are called organic nutrients. Carbon is a chemical element which is the fourth most abundant element in the universe by mass (after Hydrogen, Helium and Oxygen). It is the second most abundant element in the human body (after Oxygen).
We recognize these nutrients: carbohydrates, lipids, protein, water, minerals and vitamins.
What are the vitamins?
The Vitamins are a group of substances that are needed for normal cell function, growth and development. They are involved in chemical reactions. The Vitamins are organic compounds that contain Carbon-Hydrogen bonds. These bonds are bonds between Carbon and Hydrogen atoms. Hydrogen is the lightest element in the periodic table and the most abundant chemical substance in the Universe. The Carbon - Hydrogen molecule is the basic chemical ingredient of life, it is a result of ultraviolet light from stars.
The Vitamins are essential micronutrients which an organism needs in some quantities. They are usually not single molecules, but groups of related molecules called vitamers. They have diverse biochemical functions.
The term vitamin is derived from the word "vitamine", which was coined in 1912 by Polish biochemist Casimir Funk.
Before 1935 the only source of vitamins was from food.
In 1950's mass production and marketing of vitamin supplements was created
Synthetic vitamins
Most of the vitamins we found on the shelves of the pharmacies and other stores are synthetic. Synthetic means made by chemical synthesis to imitate natural products. About 95% of all vitamins supplements sold today are synthetic. They are manufactured with chemicals and do not come straight from their natural sources. Many synthetic vitamins and supplements are isolated - they can not be recognized by our bodies in the same way as the natural version. Synthetic versions of vitamins contain chemical compounds that were not meant for human consumption. They are made to mimic the way natural vitamins act in our bodies.
If your read the word "natural" or "whole foods" on the label it can mean that 10% of the product contain natural form but the other 90% can be synthetic. It is labeled this way but in reality you are buying a product with 90% of synthetic garbage.
Most fruit and vegetable concentrates used in dietary supplements are dried with high heat, destroying nutrients in the product.
Synthetic supplements are much cheaper to produce, more money is made. They are however ineffective in preventing disease. They are dangerous to our health (risk of cancer and heart disease namely).
Synthetic materials are petroleum, acetylene gas, ammonia gas, formaldehyde gas, coal tar (carcinogen) and more.
Coal tar, for example, is used for synthetic vitamin B1 production together with ammonia, formaldehyde and hydrochloric acid. After fermetation, heating, cooling, drying and more procedures it is ready to be tested for purity and then shipped to distributors.
Vitamin C known as ascorbic acid is a mixture of sulfuric acid and cornstarch, rice starch or corn sugar (mostly made in China; developed in China in the 1960's ). It is only a part of vitamin C molecule. Ascorbic acid in vitamin supplements may have adverse health effects. Synthetic vitamin C may weaken mitochondria of the cell. Mitochondria is very important for our health as it creates energy rich molecules for the cell. This type of vitamin C does little to prevent common cold (zinc is a better choice, it shortens colds).
Another synthetic danger is with vitamin A, when it is written on the label "vitamin A palmitate".
Synthetic vitamin D means that on the label you can read calcitriol, doxercalceferol and calcipotriene - they are toxic in high amounts.
Long term use of synthetic vitamins can damage our health, it can lead to kidney and liver problems, heart disease, internal bleeding or cancer.
READ THE LABELS PROPERLY!!!!!!!!
If the ingredient is labeled with the prefix "dl"- it means the ingredient is synthetic. Also words that end "ide" or "ate" signify sythetic ingredient. The most commercial manufactures usually create synthetic vitamins and mineral supplements.
The prefix "d"- indicates the natural form. Natural supplement usually list food sources or are labeled 100% plant or animal based.
Dangerous Ingredients: artificial colors, hydrogenated oils, lead, mercury, PCB's (in Omega 3 vitamins), magnesium silicate, asbestos, titanium dioxide
Ask your pharmacist for the most natural vitamin products they can offer.
I was told that the environment where the facilities are making their "synthetic pills" is very polluted and people living withing a few miles or kilometres from these facilities don't drink quality water, usually complain of headaches, there are cancers and birth defects recognized as well. Soil is all contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals.
Capsules
Vitamin capsules are like shells to enclose medicines so we can take them orally. They are soft gel capsules or hard capsules. Capsules are usually made of gelatin from collagen of animal skin or bone. They can be made of plant polysacharides as well. Vegetable capsules are made of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose. Other capsule ingredients can be glycerin, sorbitol, coloring agents, preservatives, lubricants and more.
Natural vitamins
Natural vitamins list food sources or are labeled as 100% plant or animal based.
They are compatible with human physiology. They are combined with other natural compounds present in plants,called co-nutrients.
Vitamins that come from plants are better assimilated by the organism, it contributes to the proper balance in our body.
Vitamins extracted from plants, fruits or aromatic herbs are definitely better choice than synthetic vitamins.
Plant based vitamins come from: Amia, Acerola, Guava, Lemon, Holy Basil, Curry tree, Rose hips and more.
Animal based vitamins examples: B12 - fish, meat, dairy, eggs
Carmosine - in animal tissues (beef, turkey, pork)
Creatine - produced by the liver or kidneys of animals
D3 - cod fish, fatty fish (liver oil)
Here is the short list of foods that contain lot of vitamins. Healthy diet that consists of :
tropical fruits, dried fruits, berries, dark leafy greens and spinach with kale, fish (wild not from the farm), seeds, walnuts, meat (animal liver), mushrooms, eggs, avocados, sweet bell peppers, green peas, asparagus, winter squash, sweet potatoes, olive oil, black beans, lemons, and more
Multivitamins
Multivitamins are dietary supplements with vitamins, minerals and other elements available in form of capsules, pastiles, chewable gummies, powders, liquids....
They can be derived from real food or created synthetically in laboratories. Sythetic ones contain artificial colors, titanium dioxide, sodium benzoate, magnesium stearate and more. Again, read the label!!!!!
Multivitamins aren't right for every individual. They are mostly for people who need higher amounts of certain vitamins and minerals like older adults, vegan and vegetarians, pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Multivitamins should not replace healthy eating. You should not take a multivitamin to fix poor diet, get your nutrients from healthy food instead. If you take multivitamins and eat healthy foods too, you may get high dosage which can be harmful. You can exceed the recommended daily intake of many nutrients. Long term use of beta-carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E supplements may shorten life. Vitamin A and D can be toxic if overconsumed. Multivitamins in large quantities may pose a risk of acute overdose due to toxicity of some components, principally iron.
Multivitamins are not necessary for most healthy children who are growing normally. A child should be over 12 years old to use adult vitamins. For a happy healthy child it is great if mother breast-feeds her child, the child eats lot of fruits and vegetables, drinks quality water, develops healthy eating habits, regular sleep, good hygiene at home and regular exercise activity.
I recommend to visit your doctor and get the blood test for vitamin - level testing.
It is good to talk to your doctor how you feel, sometimes people take too many vitamins or wrong ones. The most common imbalances include deficiences of vitamin B12 and vitamin D.
Take care of yourself.
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