Vitamins are dynamic, essential nutrients found in the human diet. They do not provide any energy, but they do perform specific tasks necessary for maintaining sound health. Each type is dissolved slightly different in the body, which governs their composition and their response to the way in which they are metabolized.
Definition
A soluble vitamin essentially means that it is capable of being dissolved in the digestive process and then absorbed into the bloodstream. The two types are classified by the material in which they will dissolve. Fat soluble vitamins obviously dissolve in fat. Water soluble vitamins, on the other hand, are capable of being dissolved in water.
Significance
According to a paper written by specialists at Colorado State University, fat soluble vitamins can actually be stored in the liver and fatty tissue by virtue of the fact that is dissolves in fat. By contrast, water soluble vitamins cannot be stored by the body. They are eliminated through the urine to such a degree that excretion of vitamins is a good indicator of their consumption. Therefore, people need a continuous supply of water soluble vitamins in our diet to reclaim the vitamins that were lost.
Types
The water soluble vitamins include the vitamin B complex and vitamin C. There are eight B vitamins: thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, biotin and pantothenic acid. They are found in cereal grains, meat, poultry, eggs, fish, milk, legumes and fresh vegetables. Vitamin C is mostly found in citrus fruits.
Function
The purpose of any vitamin is to perform the vital functions of the human body. B vitamins, for example, are instrumental to the metabolism, helping the body to obtain energy from food. They are also important for appetite, vision, healthy skin, red blood cell formation and the nervous system. Vitamin C, on the other hand, holds cells together, aids in healing, assists in bone and tooth formation, strengthens blood vessel walls, plays a role in the immune system and improves the absorption of iron. The fact that they dissolve in water is just a means for the body to use them, of course, but it also governs the way in which our body metabolizes them. They will only dissolve in water.
Considerations
Sometimes water soluble vitamins are easily destroyed or washed out during food storage and preparation, which only serves to heighten the degree to which we need to be more discerning about the amount of vitamins in our diet. Therefore, it is important to refrigerate fresh produce and keep milk and grains away from strong lights.
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