In daily life, we often hear the propaganda statement that a certain food is “rich in vitamin C”. However, how exactly do vitamins and how do they affect our bodies? Is eating more vitamins really good for your health? If you are also confused about the above questions, let’s see what TED-Ed has to say!

According to the TED-Ed video above, vitamins are organic compounds that we need to take in to maintain our body’s function. They are the builders, guardians, and repairmen of the body, helping the body grow musculoskeletal, use nutrients, grab, use energy, and heal wounds. However, while bacteria, fungi and plants can make vitamins for themselves, our bodies do not. So we have to get our vitamins elsewhere.

Water soluble and fat soluble
So how does the body get vitamins? In fact, it depends on the type of these compounds.

Because vitamins can be divided into two categories: “water-soluble” and “fat-soluble”, the two have different properties. Water-soluble vitamins include vitamin C, and the B group of 8 different vitamins. They dissolve in the water of fruits, vegetables and grains, which means their entry into the body is relatively simple and straightforward. Once these foods enter the body, they are digested, and the vitamins in them are directly absorbed into the bloodstream, allowing them to travel freely in the body.

Storage of vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, on the other hand, dissolve in fat, and are found in foods such as milk and butter. Their journey into the bloodstream is more tortuous: the vitamins enter the body through the stomach and intestines, where bile breaks down fats so that they can be absorbed through the intestinal wall. Since fat-soluble vitamins cannot use the blood, they need other things to get around. At this time, the protein to which the vitamin is attached becomes the carrier, bringing the fat-soluble vitamin into the bloodstream, thereby running around the body.

In addition to the differences mentioned above, the difference between water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins not only determines how they enter the bloodstream, but also how they are stored or excreted by the body. The circulatory system easily circulates water-soluble vitamins in the blood, which means that most of them can be excreted just as easily through the kidneys.

Therefore, most water-soluble vitamins need to be supplemented through the food we eat every day. However, fat-soluble vitamins can stay in the body because they can be stored in the liver and fat cells. The human body uses these two parts as a food storage room, storing vitamins there, and taking out a fixed amount when needed. Therefore, we should not over-deposit these vitamins, as the body generally has sufficient reserves.

The secret to true health is “balance”
After knowing how vitamins enter the body and how they are stored, the next question is the role of vitamins. We all know that different vitamins have different effects. For example, vitamin C helps us fight infections and make collagen; vitamin A helps make white blood cells; vitamin D aggregates calcium and phosphorus, which allows the body to build bones; and vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, removing elements that damage cells in the body Wait.

Without these different types of vitamins, humans would face various problems such as fatigue, nerve damage, heart disease, osteomalacia, and scurvy. However, from another perspective, too much of any one vitamin can also lead to poisoning in the body. In other words, vitamins do have an important influence on the human body. However, this is not to eat as much as possible. The secret of true health is actually a balanced intake!