As critical as most vitamins and minerals are to the proper function of the human body, humans lack the ability to produce vitamins and minerals internally.  The human body requires a certain amount of essential vitamins and minerals each day; food and nutritional supplements are the only vehicles that vitamins have to enter the body and meet its nutritional needs.

So the human body relies on those two main vehicles for obtaining its necessary vitamins. Nutritious food and nutritional supplements are often used interchangeably to achieve the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of the thirteen essential vitamins that are needed in the body each day. These vitamins are vital to the proper function of the organs and to allow the body to protect itself from infections, viruses, and disease.

Think of your body like a gas tank; if you’re putting bad gas in your vehicle it won’t run well for you most of the time and it will probably eventually stop running at all. Putting good gas in your car is like putting the essential vitamins in your body; it contributes to health and longevity.

The thirteen essential vitamins help the body to naturally create the critical hormones and enzymes that keep your blood pressure and heart control under control, not to mention glucose levels and other levels in the body.  Needless to say, vitamins play an important rule in proper nutrition.

So How Do You Know When Enough Is Enough?

The recommended daily allowance of the thirteen critical vitamins is not the same for everyone.  Depending on a person’s current age and health, different bodies require different amounts of the essentials. Children, the elderly, men, and women, al have different recommended daily allowances.

While it’s not always convenient to stick to specific numbers, making sure that you are eating healthy food and not substituting the healthy food with the junk food. Eating three square meals a day or snacking on healthy foods throughout the day can help you make sure you are getting enough vitamins.

What Happens If I Don’t Get Enough?

Many people out there may have a vitamin deficiency and not even know it for a while. However, in the long term most people feel the effects when they are experiencing health issues later on down the road. Processed foods with chemicals and additives, McDonald’s and Burger King seem to be the food of choice, and they most certainly do not contribute to your necessary thirteen essentials. More specifically, not having enough Vitamin D can slow down the growth of the bones in the body; lack of Vitamin E can lower your red blood cell count and not enough Vitamin C can cause overall weakness and dizziness, and increases your likelihood of an illness.

If you don’t think you are eating well enough to get the necessary vitamins that your body needs each day, consider health supplements if you have not already. Talk to your doctor as soon as you can.

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