Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. While vitamins are organic compounds of natural foods, food supplements are products intended to correct nutritional deficiencies.
Although food supplements make up for the deficiency of vitamins in the body, excess intake can lead to health risks. Read further to learn the differences between food supplements and vitamins in detail and determine which is more effective.
What are Vitamins?
Vitamins are essential micronutrients the body needs for metabolism and overall soundness. The deficiency of specific vitamins may result in health risks. Vitamins are organic products of natural foodstuffs – mostly from fruits and vegetables – and they are found in very little.
Good enough, the body doesn’t need so much of vitamins either. There are many different types of vitamins, ranging from Vitamin A to K, each having a specific function in the body.
What Are Food Supplements?
Food Supplements, also called dietary or nutritional supplements, include chemical products made to provide the body with essential nutrients that may be lacking in food.
Food supplements include vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids. It also includes substances such as pills, liquids, and tablets that supply the body with nutrients.
Differences Between Food Supplements and Vitamins
Basically, the differences between food supplements and vitamins are found in their origin and function. Vitamins are contained in natural fruits and vegetables, while most food Supplements are produced artificially.
The body needs vitamins, essentially to facilitate metabolism. More so, food Supplements make up for nutrients that are not available in sufficient amounts in the diet. However, many food supplements contain active ingredients, making them relatively unsafe for the body.
The differences between food supplements and vitamins lie in their origin and function. The hard truth is that both food supplements and vitamins provide nutritional support to the body. However, the best building blocks of good nutrition stem from natural foods.
