Myths about vitamins | Seasonal consumption

We often hear it said: «We only need trace elements and vitamins either in the autumn period, or in the spring period, when we have a lack of vitamins in the body. In other periods we can take vitamins from food». To dispel these myths, I decided to reveal this topic on my blog.

What are vitamins and trace elements?

These are special substances that we need for good condition and proper functioning of the body. They do not contain calories, but perform very important functions. It also affects the functioning and construction of cells in our body.

Our body always needs building materials. Every day, in the human body, billions of cells die and new ones are formed. To regenerate them you need building materials! Not just in spring and on Thursdays, but always.

So where did it originate from? myth №1, that vitamins and minerals they can only be administered in coursesotherwise the body will get used to it?

Let’s dispel this myth once and for all.

First of all let’s make an observation: now we are talking about any kind of vitamins, food products or other consumables, which can be used only in the quantities that the body needs.

It is important to consider normal physiological doses of vitamins, medications, food, water, etc. It divides nutrients into two categories:

• Building materials
• Everyone else

Namely, proteins, fats and carbohydrates are the macronutrients used in building the body. At the same time, proteins are not necessarily used to build muscles, but receptors are also built from them and are found in the body in large quantities.

Receptors are protein structures, as are internal organs. Proteins are constantly needed for cell renewal, muscle building, regeneration, etc.

Myth #2: Vitamin addiction

Have you ever thought about the fact that the body gets used to food products? Has the food slowed down? Obviously not. Food is a building material and there can be no question of addiction.

As you already understood, all micronutrients are taken into account, which in this case are vitamins and trace elements. Vitamins and minerals, the collection of trace elements (calcium, magnesium, vitamin B, vitamins of group A and everything that is written on the package) are the same consumables, as well as food products.

They are absorbed, destroyed and require constant replenishment, so there is no dependence on vitamins. It is necessary to take vitamins regularly: from tablets, from a proper diet, from wherever you want. There is no addiction to vitamins.

So where does this myth come from?

The manufacturers themselves write on the packaging that vitamins must be taken periodically: for example, two months and then take a break. But you have to do it right, even the manufacturers are trying to make sure.

Myth #3: water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins

Most vitamins, such as vitamin C, are water soluble. If you have taken such vitamins in excess, they will be excreted from the body on their own.

A completely different matter are fat-soluble vitamins, which tend to accumulate. These are vitamins E, D, vitamins of group A and group K.

And if you exceed the correct dose of fat-soluble vitamins, they can build up and, in theory, cause some health problems. In practice, this should not scare you if you do not use intramuscular vitamins.

The bioavailability of vitamins after ingestion is very low. To have hypervitaminosis from fat-soluble vitamins it is necessary to take them for a long time and in very high doses. This is why you don’t have to be afraid.

It is precisely for this purpose, to be sure, that very often manufacturers write that it is necessary to take a specific course of vitamins.

Homeostasis: dependence on drugs and vitamins

Let’s examine substances that are exogenous to us (of external origin), for example drugs.

Does our body contain acetylsalicylic acid, also known as aspirin? No, this is an exogenous drug, it acts on the organism and in a certain sense modifies it: metabolism, composition, state of homeostasis, etc.

The term «homeostasis» has already been mentioned before. This is the ability or tendency to maintain the internal stability of the body.

The body is constantly attacked by viruses, temperature changes, hunger, cold, overeating, gluttony, etc. In addition to all these factors, the body has an internal regulation that tries to bring your state back to a stable state.

For example, maintaining body temperature at 36.6 degrees is an obvious example of homeostasis. The body tends towards homeostasis or a state of balance. And he really likes it when you take him out of this state. This is why it can be very difficult to lose weight at first, because the body is used to consuming a lot of calories.

Imagine starting to take some type of medication for months and years at a time. Eventually your body starts to believe that receiving a certain chemical from the outside is homeostasis, which is how it should be.

If this is stopped, the body will start to fight and show that it needs this substance. He has already gotten used to it and integrated it into his system and the admission of this substance is now a homeostatic state for him.

The downside is developing tolerance to the drug when it stops working. The reason for this is homeostasis itself, which opposes external change.

The body adapts to the constant external flow of a certain substance and no longer reacts to it. A good example is coffee. If you drink a lot of coffee and often, you will probably be able to fall asleep easily after consuming it. The receptors have become accustomed to the presence of caffeine and no longer react to it. Same with medications. The important thing here is not to confuse habit, tolerance and dependence.

Now you know that the myths about vitamins arise from the fact that sooner or later we get used to almost all the drugs we administer (we have an addiction).

But vitamins and trace elements are not medicines.

We must distinguish between substances that alter our homeostasis and common building materials. The consumption of building materials is an essential process, it is ingrained in us genetically. Does not develop dependence on proteins, carbohydrates or fats.

Building materials are those substances to which addiction does not occur. Namely, vitamins and trace elements are the necessary building materials, which you need all year round.

These were three popular myths about vitamins. I hope that now you are not afraid of vitamins and trace elements and, above all, of becoming dependent on them.