There are two main types of vitamins, water-soluble vitamins, and fat-soluble vitamins. How the body does or does not store vitamin content taken from food depends on its type. The body cannot store water-soluble vitamins, which means that a person needs to replenish their water-soluble vitamin intake daily. The eight B vitamins and vitamin C are water-soluble, and the body cannot store vitamin content either of these. It is not merely that the body cannot store water-soluble vitamins, but also the water-soluble vitamins are easily destroyed by improper storage, handling, or cooking of foods that contain these vitamins. In particular, it is essential not to overcook vegetables by boiling as the water-soluble vitamins are in effect washed out of them. Still, this lack of ability to store water-soluble vitamins can be overcome by light cooking or steaming and by using the water that vegetables have been cooked in to form sauces and gravies. As the body cannot store vitamin C or the other water-soluble vitamins, it is essential to eat a balanced diet with at least five portions of fruit and vegetables to ensure that enough vitamins are available for the body to use when necessary. A person does not suffer from a vitamin deficiency due to the body’s inability to store vitamin content.
On the other hand, the body can store fat-soluble vitamin content. The body will keep vitamin content in the fat cells to be used when required, and a person does not need to consume as many of these fat-soluble vitamins on as frequent a basis as they do with water-soluble vitamins. The fat cells store vitamin A, D, E, and K as these are all fat-soluble vitamins. It is also important to store vitamin supplements correctly to ensure that the beneficial qualities of these are not diminished. The best way to store vitamin supplements is to keep the container in a dry place with a screw-top lid. When you store vitamin supplements, it is also essential to check that they have not been kept longer than the expiration date. The vitamin content of supplements cannot be guaranteed if you store vitamin tablets past their use-by date.
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