You’ve probably heard that daily vitamins are important, but do you really know why? If you eat a healthy diet, why are supplements so essential to our well-being? There’s even been some scientific dispute about daily vitamins and whether or not they actually work. (Spoiler alert: They do).

In order to get the most out of any supplement, you need a personalized recommendation. This helps you determine the right vitamins for you, so your brain and body get exactly what they need to perform at the optimal level, without worrying about overdoing it.

It can be difficult to determine exactly what vitamins you may need to supplement your diet with. And since it’s been a long time since most of us took a biology class, you may need a refresher on exactly what vitamins and minerals help your body perform optimally.

The good news: there is a simple way to find out what’s missing from your diet. Personalized testing through Honed can put you in touch with the knowledge to make informed decisions about supplements for your body and goals.

But first, let’s take a closer look at vitamins and their categories. 
 

THE VITAMINS YOUR BODY NEEDS

There are 13 essential vitamins that your body needs to stay happy and healthy. These are:

1. Vitamin A
2. Vitamin B1 
3. Vitamin B2 
4. Vitamin B3 
5. Vitamin B5 
6. Vitamin B6 
7. Vitamin B7 
8. Vitamin B9 
9. Vitamin B12 
10. Vitamin C
11. Vitamin D
12. Vitamin E
13. Vitamin K

These vitamins can be divided into two separate categories: 

• Fat-soluble. Vitamins A, D, E, and K, and B12 are all soluble, meaning they get stored in your body’s fatty tissues, muscles, and the liver. They’re more easily absorbed by the body and generally consumed through a healthy, well-balanced diet. 
   
• Water-soluble. Vitamins C and all of the B vitamins (except B12) are not stored in your body. Any excess leaves your body through urine, which means you must consume them regularly to prevent deficiencies.

Two other minerals often grouped with vitamins are choline and carnitine. These nutrients are important antioxidants that also help remove waste from the body. 
 

WHAT DO VITAMINS REALLY DO FOR YOUR BODY?

A better question would be “What don’t they do?” Vitamins promote healthy teeth, skin and nails, boost brain performance and regulate chemical processes in the body.

They also stabilize your metabolism, help form blood cells, help your body absorb and break down nutrients, assist in hormone production, and ensure your vital organs are always running at their peak performance.

Lack of any essential vitamin produces a deficiency. Deficiencies are dangerous because they have both immediate and long-term consequences. For example, having an extended vitamin deficiency can put you at an increased risk of heart disease and osteoporosis in later adulthood.
 

KNOW THE VITAMINS YOUR BODY NEEDS

This is where at-home lab testing comes in. There’s no stress, no hassle, just rapid, thorough analysis that tells you exactly what you need to start nourishing your body like it deserves.

Honed nutrient tests aren’t like blood tests or lifestyle surveys. These address extracellular (outside of the cell) factors that may not provide the most accurate reading. Factors like what you’ve eaten, the time of day, and even your hormone levels can also influence blood test results.

Hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) measures what’s going on inside your cells to get the most accurate visualization of your current vitamin and mineral needs. It also identifies any active metallic toxicity and offers a long-term reading of your nutrient and metal intake.

Oh, and it doesn’t hurt at all. You just need to provide a tablespoon of hair for the most comprehensive nutrient reading you’ve ever had.

Learn more about the science here.
 

ASSESS YOUR DIET

While personalized supplements are incredible, they don’t replace a healthy diet. It’s important to learn more about what fruits, veggies, beans, legumes, and grains you need to give your body everything it needs.

Your entire physiology was built around what you eat. A healthy diet has always been at the core of holistic wellness, and our bodies are built to break down our food and gather essential nutrients we need from it.

Unfortunately, in the modern era most grocery store foods no longer provide the complex nutrition human bodies require, at the rate we need it. Soil quality is different than it was for our ancestors. The way we eat has changed. The way we move our body has changed. Stress levels were different and we weren’t exposed to environmental stressors and toxins to the same degree.

As you assess your diet, make a note to eliminate as much processed foods as you can. “Eat from the earth” is golden advice.

Opt for whole grains over processed bread and other baked goods; eat fruits, vegetables, beans, and legumes in their natural state, and consider swapping the ultra-creamy salad dressing for a tablespoon of olive oil, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt.

Nutrient testing will also give insight into the specific foods your body can benefit from, and those you may want to avoid until vitamin and mineral levels come back into balance.
 

THE BEST WAY TO GIVE YOUR BODY THE VITAMINS IT NEEDS

Supplements should never be taken on a whim. What you put into your body builds up, and too much of any particular vitamin can be just as dangerous as too little.

The best way to figure out exactly what you need is to get a personalized metabolic test. This gives you the most accurate depiction of what your current vitamin and mineral balances are and the best supplements to support your health goals.

Ready to get started?  Click here to learn more about how we can help you.