Vitamins are extremely important to human life, growth and existence.

How important they are can be gauged by the fact that the fetus in the womb starts developing on the vitamins it receives from the mother.

After birth children grow well only if they receive the necessary vitamins required. Lack of enough vitamins affects their growth pattern.

Later on these children turn into healthy individuals and adults if they do not develop chronic diseases. And they do not develop chronic diseases if they get enough vitamins.

Necessity of vitamins for good health and prevention of diseases

Vitamins ensure the proper functioning of the nervous system.

Apart from this vitamins are necessary for the proper functioning of different cells and tissues in the body.

Each vitamin has specific function. Deficiency of any particular vitamin causes the corresponding deficiency related disease. For example, lack of Vitamin C causes Scurvy.

Vitamin deficiencies are the main cause for chronic illness too. Many people are not deficient enough to get the deficiency diseases. But they do not have enough vitamins for preventing the chronic illness.

The different kinds of vitamins:

Thirteen different varieties of vitamins are found in the different varieties of food.

Of these the body can synthesize Vitamin D and Vitamin K.

Some vitamins are water-soluble and some are fat-soluble. The body does not retain water-soluble vitamins. Excess amounts of these vitamins are given away in urine. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the fat cells of the body and the liver. Their build up is toxic.

Need for vitamin supplements

People having diets rich in fruits and vegetables may still have a deficiency due to their external habits like smoking and drinking. Vitamin supplements are necessary to fill in these deficiencies.

Vitamins supplements are needed by adults too not only prevent deficiency diseases but also to prevent the risk of cancer, heart diseases, etc.

Demerits of vitamin supplements

The vitamins found in supplements are different from those found in food. That is why vitamins when taken in their natural harm do not give rise to side effects. But the very same vitamins in supplements cause side effects.

Vitamins in their natural form from food never harm the body. There is no danger of excess or over dosage. But vitamins in the form of supplements can cause great harm. Excess of fat-soluble vitamins tend to build up in the body and are harmful. Excess of water-soluble vitamins are not harmful for they are not stored in the body. Excessive vitamin supplements may cause severe side effects like loose motions and stomach cramps. But reducing the dosage of vitamin supplements can immediately cure vitamin side effects. They do not cause permanent harm or damage.

One popular misconception to be cleared is that, many think ‘vitamins are good for us so extra vitamins are more good.' But this is wrong. Excess of vitamins have a negative effect on the liver and damage it.