About Liquid Vitamins

Many people think that by taking vitamins in liquid form, they will experience better mineral absorption. This in true to an extent, but the liquid form may be a better medium for only certain minerals. Because of its ease of ingestion, liquid vitamins benefit those who have a tough time taking pills and capsules. They are more effective for people whose gastrointestinal system has been compromised and cannot effectively break down compressed material. Liquid vitamins are convenient, because they do not require water and may be available in spray forms.

Mineral Absorption
Although liquids are typically absorbed more expediently than solids, this does not necessarily mean that liquid vitamins deliver higher absorption. The problem is that liquid vitamins have less mineral content than vitamins in pill form, so while the liquid has higher and faster absorption, it is not necessarily more beneficial. However, vitamins such as B12 and folic acid that are naturally delivered in small doses may be better ingested in liquid form.

Easy Delivery
For those who have difficulty swallowing pills, such as toddlers and the elderly, liquid vitamins provide an effortless alternative. Of course, if a toddler has little coordination, liquid vitamins could get messy. The best way to handle a potential disaster is to spoon feed the vitamin to the toddler. A little mess is a small price to pay to prevent a choking hazard.


Intestinal Ease
Some people do not have any problem swallowing pills, but may not be able to digest the pill once it is inside the intestine. This is a common condition in people who suffer from diverticulitis, where the sharp edges of the pill can cause serious inflammation and even bleeding. Liquid vitamins are less aggressive to people with such conditions.

No Water Needed
As water is not needed to swallow liquid vitamins, they can be taken anywhere. This provides immeasurable convenience to individuals who may not be able to get themselves a glass of water, including the elderly and small children. It must be taken into consideration, however, that liquid vitamins often have high sugar content, which is added by manufacturers to mask the taste.

Portability
Lugging around a glass bottle of 150 vitamins can be aggravating and noisy. Liquid vitamins, especially if they are insulated within a slim plastic bottle, are easily transportable. New methods of liquid vitamin delivery are being developed. One is the spray version, which comes with pump action and is absorbed directly through contact with the tongue or with any part of the inner mouth.

How to Use Vitamins for the Face

Vitamin supplements can be taken orally or put on the skin topically. Some vitamins will help your facial skin regardless of how it is used, while others are more beneficial if they are ingested. There are a variety of face lotions and other products on the market that contain vitamins, but you need quite a bit of information before you run out and purchase the one that appears to have the greatest number of vitamins in it.

Instructions
1
Understand which vitamins are better for your face when applied topically and which vitamins provide more nutrients to your skin when ingested via liquid or tablet form. Some vitamins, such as vitamin C, will help your skin in terms of producing collagen regardless of whether or not it is ingested or applied topically. However, vitamin C shows more immediate changes when applied topically to the skin.

2
Check with a doctor or dermatologist before using any new vitamin-enriched creams or taking any vitamin supplements. If you have pre-existing health conditions or if you may be pregnant, you should definitely consult your primary physician prior to taking any new supplements, as they may interact with any prescription medications you are already taking. If you are using prescription skin care from a dermatologist, consult with him prior to using a new face cream, as the vitamins could interact with the medication in the prescription cream.

3
Read up on the benefits of vitamins A, C and E for skin health. These are the three main vitamins found in face creams. Vitamin A is used to help soften the skin, but it is found that it is more valuable via oral vitamins than when applied topically. Vitamin C helps reduce redness in the skin and helps build collagen in the skin, making it appear more supple. Both oral vitamins and topical face cream containing vitamin C have been shown to help facial skin health. Vitamin E is known for its antioxidant capabilities. It helps with scarring of the skin when applied topically and also helps reduce free radicals that can cause wrinkling of the skin.

4
Choose a topical cream that will benefit the trouble you are having with your skin. If your skin is dry, you may just need a vitamin A enriched cream, but if your face is dry and red, you should lean toward a cream that offers both vitamins A and C.

5
Read all ingredients found in any face lotion before using it. Some may have other ingredients besides the vitamins, and you must be sure you do not have allergies to any of the ingredients prior to using the new lotion, or you risk making your skin look worse.

About Vitamins

Along with carbohydrates, fats, protein and minerals, vitamins are essential nutrients that allow the human body to properly function. We can obtain many of our daily doses of vitamins from the foods we eat, but others must be taken in supplement form in order to have a full effect. With the addition of vitamins to a healthy diet, people are able to have a healthier life and live longer than ever before.

Significance
Vitamins are organic compounds required by living organisms in order to perform the processes of life. While some animals need more, or different, vitamins than others, humans require the largest amount of different vitamins to live healthily. Vitamins perform many tasks within the body, ranging from hormone triggers to antioxidants to co-enzymes that help with metabolism. Each set of different vitamin compounds performs a different task when integrated into the body.

Function
Figuring out which vitamins are important for which body functions has been an ongoing process. While often times it was not known that a specific vitamin was responsible for curing an illness or strengthening the body, foods rich in vitamins were often prescribed as cures--even though doctors back then didn't know it was the vitamins doing the curing. For example, ancient Egyptians often prescribed a diet high in liver for those people who suffered from night blindness. Today, however, we know this is because liver is rich in vitamin A--a vitamin that helps with sight.


Types
There are many different types of vitamins; most were discovered, or at least identified, in the early 1900s. In 1909, vitamin A, (retinol) was the first vitamin discovered. Vitamin C, an important vitamin throughout the history of world exploration because of its connection to scurvy, was not discovered until 1912. Thankfully, people had been eating fruits with high amounts of vitamin C to prevent scurvy before vitamin C was discovered. Vitamin B9 (folic acid), discovered in 1942, was one of the last vitamins discovered. Vitamin B9 is very important to fetal development.

Effects
The lack of vitamins can have a profound effect on the human body. For instance, in the case of scurvy, the lack of vitamin C can cause teeth to fall out and other hideous conditions of the skin and bone, eventually leading to death. The lack of vitamin B in the diets of some Asian cultures lead to the disease known as beriberi, another deadly illness. The lack of vitamin B12, well known for its role in supplying energy, can create pernicious anemia. This disease has many different symptoms, but the most major is severe fatigue.

Considerations
Today, there are set guidelines for the amounts of specific vitamins that humans need each day. The recommended daily allowances are chosen so that the body will perform at its optimum capacity and so that illnesses caused by the lack of these vitamins can be avoided. Most doctors believe that if you eat a completely balanced diet, full of vegetables, fruits, meats and grain, you will get all of the vitamins you need for a day. If your diet is less than balanced, a multivitamin might make sure that you are getting all the vitamins you need to be healthy.

Functions of All of the Vitamins

The function of all vitamins in the human body is extensive and complex. Vitamins serve multiple roles and they work together to perform many functions, from reducing infection to aiding metabolism. Taking in insufficient amounts of vitamins can result in deficiencies, and taking in excessive amounts can result in toxicities; both can cause health problems. A well-rounded diet with a variety of foods is ideal for supplying the body with an appropriate amount of the vitamins it needs to function to the best of its ability.

Types
Vitamins can be categorized in one of two ways--fat-soluble vitamins and water-soluble vitamins. Vitamins A, D, E and K are the fat-soluble vitamins. They require the presence of fat for their absorption and are stored in the liver. Water-soluble vitamins include vitamin C and the B-complex vitamins. The B vitamins include thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, B6, B12, folate, biotin and pantothenic acid. Water-soluble vitamins are lost through urination and are not stored in the body.

Function
Vitamin A is important for eye health and supports a healthy immune system. Beta carotene is a precursor to vitamin A and acts as an antioxidant which protects the body from free radical damage. Vitamin D assists with the absorption of calcium. Vitamin E is also an antioxidant, protecting healthy cells much like beta carotene. Vitamin K is important for blood clotting. Vitamin C plays a role in the synthesis of neurotransmitters important in brain function and collagen, a structural component of the body. It is important for wound healing and acts as an antioxidant. Thiamine is important in the function of the nervous system, helps release energy from the food we eat and promotes normal appetite. Niacin has a similar function to thiamine and also promotes healthy skin. Riboflavin is also like niacin and thiamine, in addition to promoting healthy vision. Vitamin B6 is important for protein metabolism, fat utilization and red blood cell formation. Vitamin B12 plays a role in the synthesis of genetic material, red blood cell formation and helps maintain a healthy nervous system. Folate prevents spinal birth defects and lowers homocystein levels. Biotin works to release energy from carbohydrates and to synthesize fat. Pantothenic acid plays a role in energy production and hormone development.


Prevention/Solution
In addition to their functions within the body, vitamins are important for the prevention of disease. The antioxidant action of beta carotene, vitamin E and vitamin C protects cells, reducing the risk of cancer. In addition, vitamins E and C work hand in hand. Once vitamin E serves its purpose as an antioxidant it becomes inactive, however, vitamin C has been found to regenerate vitamin E. Vitamin A reduces the risk of night blindness. Vitamin D's role in bone health helps prevent osteoporosis. Folate's action to lower homocystein levels links it to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Deficiency
While it is rare to see major deficiencies of fat-soluble vitamins due to their storage, mild deficiencies can occur with the lack of a balanced diet. Children deficient in vitamin D can develop a bone disease called rickets. Lack of vitamin A can cause intestinal infections. Vitamin K deficiency can cause excessive bleeding. Deficiencies in water soluble vitamins are more common because they are not stored. Lack of vitamin C can cause infection and reduction in wound healing. Thiamine and niacin deficiency can result in mental confusion and muscle weakness. Insufficient intake of riboflavin and vitamin B6 can result in dermatitis. Folate and vitamin B12 deficiency can cause anemia. While uncommon, insufficient intake of biotin and pantothenic acid causes fatigue, nausea and abdominal cramping.

Toxicity
High doses of vitamins can result in toxicity. In much the opposite way as with deficiency, toxicity of water-soluble vitamins is rare, but it sometimes occurs in fat-soluble vitamins due to their storage in the body. Among water-soluble vitamins, abdominal cramping and bloating can occur with high doses of vitamin C, abnormal liver function can be seen with high niacin intakes and too much folate can mask a vitamin B12 deficiency, often causing anemia. Over-consumption of vitamin A can result in mild symptoms such as nausea and blurred vision, or more severe problems such as growth retardation. Too much vitamin D can cause nausea, weight loss, growth retardation and kidney damage. Vitamin E toxicity is uncommon, however, symptoms such as nausea and disorders with the digestive tract can occur. There are no reported toxicity symptoms with vitamin K.

How to Select Five Vitamins

More and more people are discovering the benefits of taking vitamins. Vitamins can not only help you stay healthy, but can help you recover from illness. There are many vitamins and vitamin combinations.

Instructions
1
Start with a multi-vitamin tablet that you'll take once daily when you want to select five basic vitamins. It's important to take a multi-vitamin, especially when you take other single kinds of vitamins or vitamin combinations. A good multi-vitamin contains all of the vitamins and minerals the body needs in the minimum recommended dosage. When you take one type of vitamin, the body will "search" for the others. So, it's important to take a multi-vitamin tablet to keep your system in balance.

2
Take vitamin C as one of the five vitamins you select for optimum health. Vitamin C is one of the antioxidants and it is also great for fighting infections. Vitamin C has been shown in studies to not only cure infections, but to also improve dental health. Vitamin C is so effective in treating infections, even dental infections respond to vitamin C. When taken regularly, vitamin C lowers the amount of bacteria in the mouth and limits the formation of plaque on teeth and gums.


3
Choose vitamin E as another of the five basic vitamins when you select nutritional supplements. Vitamin E is another of the antioxidants important for good circulation and heart health. Studies have shown that taking vitamin E regularly can help prevent heart disease and has many other benefits.

4
Select vitamin A as another one of the five vitamins you take regularly. Vitamin A teams up with vitamin C and vitamin E to protect your blood vessels and other body tissues. Vitamin A is also an important vitamin for building a healthy immune system.

5
Know that if you want to select five vitamins to take regularly, vitamin B6 is another good one. This vitamin is helpful in dealing with stress and the effects that stress can cause on the body. Vitamin B6 is also important for building and maintaining a powerful immune system.

Does One Need to Take Vitamins?

Like oxygen and water, vitamins are essential for maintaining a healthy body and mind. While some vitamins are replicated inside the body and obtained from other sources such as the Sun, daily intake of vitamins is necessary for a number of reasons including the ability to fight off sickness and disease. Either consumed through foods, or taken as supplements, vitamins are required by the body to function properly.


Digestive System Help
Vitamins can work to cure all types of digestive and stomach woes. Nausea and upset stomach can be soothed by lowering the production of acid in the stomach. Vitamins can also help in the breaking down of food to obtain the required nutrients and enzymes the body needs. It can then help to flush out the remaining waste through the excretory system and out of the body.

Cholesterol Help
Vitamins help balance the levels of cholesterol in the blood. By lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol, the onset of coronary and other diseases is lessened. By the same token, by raising levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, the body is able to use the necessary cholesterol in its daily functions. Maintaining a healthy level of cholesterol in the body is vital for proper circulatory health.


Anti-Aging
Vitamins help to slow or reverse the oxidation of cells and tissue. Oxidation is the aging process by which skin and other tissue lose elasticity, become dry and are less likely to be able to regenerate and renew themselves. The vitamins help to keep the body younger by inhibiting the aging process. The underlying collagen is allowed to keep skin tighter, and wrinkle-free.

Heart Health
Vitamins work to lower blood pressure and aid the cardiovascular system. The blood is then able to flow easier throughout the body as it carries essential nutrients, all without making the heart pump harder through restricted walls. By relaxing the walls, the heart is protected from such ills as attacks, heart disease and stroke.

Mental Health
Vitamins contain enzymes very similar to those in the brain that control normal function and provide stability and cognitive processes. They work to stabilize these parts of the brain to ensure clear, precise thinking when faced with stressful situations. Symptoms such as "cloudiness" and "fog" are lifted, allowing the mind to better focus on tasks at hand.

Anti-Inflammatory
Vitamins provide anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce and soothe a number of ailments. Common colds and flu start from the respiratory system being inflamed, which can be halted from vitamin intake. Arthritis symptoms and asthma attacks are also results of inflammation in the body. Moreover, any inflamed areas throughout the body can be eased by vital nutrients the vitamins contain.

Immunity Assistance
Vitamins boost the immune system by seeking out free radicals and toxins throughout the body. They work to neutralize them before they can latch on to healthy cells and tissue and cause sickness and disease. They also help to bolster defense against allergies and other daily threats. In addition, they help to build white blood cells and antibodies that fight illnesses that attack the body.

Which Vitamins Should One Take?

One look at the vitamin section of most supermarkets and drug stores is enough to confuse most people. Which ones do you need? How much? What do they do for you? Here's a summary of the benefits of some major vitamins.
Vitamin A

Vitamin A strengthens the immune system, promotes healthy eyes and is important for the growth of cells and for healthy skin. Teenage boys should get 900 micrograms of vitamin A per day, while teenage girls should get no more than 700 micrograms. Overdosing on vitamin A--a risk especially if you taking acne medication that contains isotretinoin--can cause skin or liver damage.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is vital for the production of collagen, which helps hold cells together. Vitamin C is very important for the health of teeth, bones, gums and blood vessels. It helps the body absorb nutrients like calcium and iron, and helps the healing of wounds. Men need 75 mg a day; women, 65mg.


Vitamin B
The entire B family should be a part of your daily intake. Men and women need 2.4 micrograms of each B vitamin a day (about 200 IUs). Vitamin B12 is important for nerve cell function and red blood cell development. Vitamin B9 provides women with the folic acid they need to deliver a healthy child. A vitamin B7 deficiency can result in impaired growth and problems with infant development. Vitamin B6 helps break down proteins and assists in healthy brain functioning. Vitamin B5 provides the body with pantothenic acid, which prevents acne and keeps the skin healthy. Vitamin B3 supplements the body's niacin, which is essential for preventing dermatitis, mental confusion and diarrhea. Vitamin B2 is the bodies source of riboflavin which prevents cracks in the lips, sensitivity to sun light, and inflammation of the tongue. Vitamin B1 provides the body with thiamine, essential for preventing beriberi, a disease of the nervous system that can cause failed sensory perception and result in heart failure.

Vitamin Supplements vs Vitamins from Food
The Food and Drug Administration as well as numerous medical sites and journals attest to the importance of using food as the main source of nutrients, supplemented as necessary by vitamin supplements. Not all of the biologically active components in food have been identified, so there's no telling what other nutrients you might get from food but not a pill.