How well do vitamins work?

Question

I know thats a weird question but my grandpa used to tell me that vitamins (the ones in pill form) just runs through your system and doesn't give you anything.

Answer 1

Vitamins are to just supplement your body with needed nutrients.  You should be able to get most/some vitamins from your diet, although with the way we grow/cultivate/process food these days, it probably doesn't happen.  You lose nutrients in the food you eat by pesticide use, depleted soil nutrients from farming on the same land every year, and cooking your food/processing it in a plant with chemical preservatives.

A whole food multivitamin may be good for you health.

Your grandpa says that the vitamins run through your system is true to a point.

- There are only 4 fat-soluble vitamins: A, D, E, and K.  The rest are what is called water-soluble vitamins.  When your body has the required amount of water-soluble vitamins, it excretes the rest from your body.  The fat-soluble vitamins stay in your body.  which is why you have to be careful to not overdose, as they are toxic in large amounts.

- The quality and form of the vitamin.  Some forms of vitamins are better absorbed by the body than others.  For example, (it's a mineral, but w.e.) magnesium amino acid chelate is better absorbed than magnesium oxide (mag oxide can create a laxative effect).

- The way your body processes vitamins and minerals.  If you take a supplement orally, you may not be getting the full dosage as listed on the bottle. That is because the supplement has to go through the digestive tract (stomach, liver ,etc) before it becomes absorbed in the small intestine.  Some of the vitamins and minerals are lost in this process.  The better quality supplement brands list both the amount of vitamin/mineral in the supplement, along with the "elemental" amount of that vitamin/mineral (how much will actually be absorbed). For example, 400mg of magnesium citrate in the supplement, will provide 100mg of elemental magnesium.

- As well, the synthetic vitamins/minerals may be less useful than if you took whole food or natural vitamins/minerals. (For ex. don't take Centrum!)

Answer 2

Most vitamins in pill form are synthetic, this form is not absorbed by the body. The same goes with fortified foods - the body does not absorb these vitamins. It's best to get them through raw vegetables and fruits, however our food supply is not of a great quality any longer so it's best to supplement with a good quality liquid vitamin that is made from cold cooked vegetables. Most people today eat foods that are packaged and dead and are very deficient in their vitamins and minerals.

Pills are very hard for the body to absorb. The preferred method is liquid, then capsules, then pills.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Vitamins do help, but it depends on what brand you use. Most brands you pick up in the pharmacy or supermarket are full of junk. If you get a vitamin in a natural base, it is easier for your body to break down and digest. The best vitamins I have every taken were Nature's Plus Ultra Source of life. They are expensive, huge, and 3 a day are recommended, but they were the only ones that I really experienced a difference with. I have a genetic immune system disorder, and get sick very, very often. As long as I take those, I get sick maybe a thrid as much as I did when I was on others, or none at all. And trust me, I tried many, many different ones, since I used to work in a health food store for over 5 years.

Answer 4

rbpi2 know what he/she is talking about. I couldn't have said it better!!

Answer 5

I don't know of many people who eat a complete healthy meal every day all the time, that's where vitamins come in, to complement your nutrition.  It is true that they run through your system, right after the body takes what it needs, and that is why you take them everyday.  It is very important to intake the foods that provide all the nutrients, but if you don't find the best and more natural form of the supplements, your doctor may help with that.  

Answer 6

I think the liquid ones are better because they give you full absorption potential.

Cheap one: http://www.gbgsystem.biz

Expensive:

http://www.youtube.com/weakbody

http://www.cleancardio.com

In any case, I would never go back to pill form -- yes they run through your system.

Answer 7

Vitamins are good as a supplement, but you should be getting most of the vitamins you need from healthy foods, the body absorbs them better.  It's best to take vitamins before bed so your body has time to absorb them.  Things like drinking coffee will definitely flush vitamins out of your body.

Answer 8

They work better in a liquid form they are absorbed into the body easier than a pill try Vemma complete liquid nutrition With a pill the body has to breask it down before it can be absorbed therefore it is mostly passed through the body Liquid is already broken down to smaller particles

Answer 9

For most people in North America, vitamins are a waste of money.  You get all the vitamins you need from food.  Many foods like milk and breads are fortified with vitamins.  Whole grain foods, fruits and veggies, meat, eggs all naturally contain vitamins.

Drink milk, eat bread, eat fruit, eat veggies, eat meat or eggs to get all the vitamins and minerals you need.