01/06/2026
Vitamins are essential micronutrients your body needs to function properly. Because the body cannot manufacture most of them on its own, they have to come from your diet or supplements.
Vitamins generally fall into two categories: water-soluble (which your body uses and flushes out daily) and fat-soluble (which are stored in your liver and fatty tissues for later use).
Here is a breakdown of what the most common vitamins do for you:
The Fat-Soluble Vitamins
Vitamin A: Essential for maintaining healthy vision, supporting immune function, and keeping skin healthy.
Vitamin D: Helps your body absorb calcium to build and maintain strong bones. It is unique because your skin can synthesize it when exposed to sunlight.
Vitamin E: Acts as a powerful antioxidant, protecting your cells from oxidative stress and damage.
Vitamin K: Plays a critical role in helping your blood clot properly and supports bone metabolism.
The Water-Soluble Vitamins
Vitamin C: A vital antioxidant that boosts the immune system, aids iron absorption, and is required to produce collagen, which keeps your skin, joints, and blood vessels resilient.
B-Complex Vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12): These function primarily as an engine for your metabolism. They help convert the food you eat into usable cellular energy and play a major role in brain function, red blood cell production, and DNA repair.
