Vitamins and minerals, like proteins, fats and carbohydrates, are essential for the body to function. There are a large number of different vitamins and minerals that each have different functions within the body, all of which can be found within a healthy balanced diet. Some vitamins are stored after they are consumed (fat-soluble vitamins) which means they do not need to be eaten daily, these include Vitamins A, D, E and K. However others (water soluble vitamins) are not stored and therefore need to be consumed daily to ensure a healthy balance, which include Vitamin C, B and Folic Acid. Due to the necessity of these elements a lot of people therefore turn to supplements in order to ensure they are consuming all of these different forms, however as mentioned all can be found within a balanced diet.

A balanced diet should consist of a variety of different foods from the following groups:

–       Fruit and vegetables

–       Starchy foods such as bread, rice, potatoes and pasta

–       Meat, fish, eggs and beans

–       Milk and dairy

–       Fats and sugars (in smaller amounts compared to the other four groups)

Although all the necessary vitamins and minerals can be found within your diet, it is still sometimes necessary to take additional supplements, for example people who have certain deficiencies or conditions which means their levels can’t be met through normal dietary consumption. Examples of this are deficiencies of Vitamin D, which is also linked to lack of natural sunlight, can have a negative effect on people’s moods and reduce their energy levels. In situations such as this a supplementation of Vitamin D would be recommended as it is a simple way to restoring homeostasis (balance) within the body.

Speak to your doctor and they will be able to test and suggest potential vitamin supplementation, but remember that all can be found through a natural and balanced diet. 

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–       Some vitamins are needed daily which include:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamins B6 and B12
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E

–       All should be found within a healthy balanced diet which should consist of:

• Fruit and vegetables
• Starchy foods such as bread, rice, potatoes and pasta
• Meat, fish, eggs and beans
• Milk and dairy
• Fats and sugars (in smaller amounts compared to the other four groups)

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