Why Can’t We Make Our Own Vitamins?

Why can’t we make our own vitamins? This is a good question and the answer is simple. The body can only synthesize vitamins and cannot make enough to meet our daily requirements. They must be obtained from other sources or from another synthetic source. Vitamins are called essential nutrients and we need a specific amount of each vitamin to keep our body and mind healthy and functioning normally. If we are not getting one of the essential nutrients, we may feel tired, crabby, and we may not be as sharp mentally as we should be.

Our body needs certain vitamin and minerals to keep each part working together to keep us alive every day. If your body doesn’t get the necessary nutrients it can touch every one of your body’s systems and cause them to quit working. If you are taking a good multivitamin your body will remain healthier, and your thinking remains clear. Much of today’s population lacks the necessary ingredients to keep our body running smoothly. We eat fast foods, fail to exercise, and do not consume enough fruits and vegetables. We are not getting even the basic nutrients our body needs. That means many of us are not coming close to getting ideal nutrient levels.

Water-soluble vitamins are not stored and will dissolve in water. Our body needs to replace vitamins such as Vitamin C daily. Water-soluble vitamins include the important B vitamins as well. Because these vitamins dissolve in liquid, much of their value is destroyed or washed away during food storage and preparation. To reduce this problem, make sure you are keeping fresh produce refrigerated, keep milk and whole grains away from strong light and use the water from cooking vegetables in soups.

Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, broccoli, strawberries, melons, and tomatoes. Dark green leafy vegetables and tomatoes have plenty of vitamin C. The B vitamins are found in various foods including, organ meats, pork, enriched and whole grain products, peas, and legumes. Vitamin B is found in milk, dark green leafy vegetables, and eggs.

Another B vitamin known as folic acid is found in whole and fortified grains and cereals, citrus fruits, and legumes. Pork, meats, whole grains and green leafy vegetables are a great source of vitamin B6.

Vitamin B12 is only found in animal foods. These foods include fish, eggs, milk and milk products. Oysters and shellfish also have vitamin B12 but the vitamin needs extra stomach acid to work properly. Panthotenic acid and biotin are made by intestinal bacteria and aid in using these important B vitamins.

Our body needs these vitamins to function and be healthy. Our body cannot make many of the vitamins we need on a daily basis. That is why it is important to take a good multivitamin supplement as well as finding them through our diet. Taking a multivitamin each day will ensure that our body runs like a well-tuned automobile and we remain physically healthy and mentally alert.