Gut Health Supplements

4 Essential Vitamins For Digestive Health You Should Take Daily

fruits-and-vegetables

There are certain vitamins for digestive health that we need in order to keep the entire digestive system on track. These vitamins and minerals not only help to maintain digestive function, but they also play a role in preventing various diseases.

It is important that we get enough vitamins for digestive health and among the most essential are Vitamin A, Vitamin B-complex, Vitamin C and Vitamin D.

Vitamin A

vitamin A for digestive health

Although indirectly involved in digestive health, the lack of vitamin A can leave a person more prone to developing gastro-intestinal diseases. In a study done in 2015 and published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, it was shown that inadequate Vitamin A in the body was more common among those with Crohn’s disease.1

Aside from being one of the essential vitamins for digestive health, Vitamin A can also help maintain general health and well-being. In addition to boosting your body’s ability to fight disease, it also increases your resistance to infection. Vitamin A may also protect your cells from damage by free radicals. This can help reduce the aging process and may even slow it down.

Vitamin A has also been shown to boost the growth of new blood vessels and improve the health of the visual system. In addition to all of these benefits, vitamin A may also prevent certain cancers from occurring.

Children are particularly encouraged to take in more foods rich in vitamin A due to the way that it can boost growth and development. While it is also an antioxidant, it works in much the same way as beta-carotene does. It works to remove built-up toxins in the body and promotes healthier functioning overall.

Not everyone gets enough vitamin A in their diet. In fact, many people get more vitamin A from supplements than they do from food sources. As such, a vitamin supplement may be the best way to get the benefits of vitamin A.

Foods rich in Vitamin A include liver, eggs, milk, cheese and yogurt.

Vitamin C

vitamin-c-for-digestive health

Vitamin C is a very powerful antioxidant that fights off free radicals that can cause damage in the body. This powerful antioxidant has many benefits including an anti-inflammatory effect, which makes it one of the important vitamins for digestive health and a very effective treatment for many types of digestive disorders. It helps to protect the mucous membranes in the digestive tract from drying out and becoming inflamed.

Vitamin C is crucial to proper digestion. Vitamin C also plays a role in the synthesis of proteins in the digestive tract, as well as in fighting off viral and bacterial infections. While some studies have suggested that taking vitamin C can lead to cancers of the mouth, there is no evidence that this is true.

Vitamin C is found naturally in fruits and vegetables. If you cannot eat enough fruits and vegetables to meet their daily vitamin requirements, a good supplement will provide you with a high level of vitamin C.

However, keep in mind that even the best supplements that contain vitamin C can be difficult to digest. If you choose to take vitamin C by ingesting it through vitamin C supplements, it is best to eat a vitamin C rich food such as citrus fruit or raw broccoli first to help your body absorb the vitamin.

Vitamin B-Complex

Another important vitamins for digestive health that we need is vitamin B-complex. There are 8 vitamins in Vitamin B-complex and they are:

  • B-1 (thiamine)
  • B-2 (riboflavin)
  • B-3 (niacin)
  • B-5 (pantothenic acid)
  • B-6 (pyridoxine)
  • B-7 (biotin)
  • B-9 (folic acid)
  • B-12 (cobalamin)

This combination of vitamins works together in the digestive system to strengthen the immune system and produce necessary antibodies to prevent infection. Since vitamin B-complex has been linked to a lower incidence of colon cancer, it is a very important vitamin to include in your diet.

Vitamin B-complex  also aids in proper nerve and muscle function. It helps the body absorb and use the essential nutrients more efficiently. When taken in supplement form, it works quickly to provide benefits to the body. In addition to its benefits, it is considered to be easy on the digestive system.

When a person is deficient in Vitamin B-complex, the body is unable to maintain good health. It can lead to muscle weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues.

Overall, a deficiency in this vitamin can result in fatigue, poor digestion and nutrient absorption, anemia, poor memory and concentration, among others

Vitamin B-complex benefits are most apparent during the first two weeks after birth. It helps maintain energy and health for the infant. It helps with the development of the lungs and proper growth of the newborn. As the child grows, it helps with protein metabolism and formation of red blood cells.

Studies also indicate that it helps increase the effectiveness of birth control pills. Women who took supplements during their second trimester of pregnancy had lower risks of developing ovarian cancer, premenstrual syndrome and certain reproductive disorders.

Vitamin D

sun bathing

Vitamin D plays a vital role in helping to maintain the health of the digestive system.  it is important to note that insufficient levels of vitamin D can cause disorders of the stomach and intestines. These include nausea, bloating, and diarrhea.

This vitamin is also essential for proper bone development and growth, as well as healthy skin and nails, blood clotting, metabolism, bowel function, fertility, and immunity. It is also important for regulating phosphorus levels.

Vitamin D helps in regulating your body’s calcium absorption. Lack of vitamin D can cause insufficient absorption of calcium, which can lead to poor bone health and diseases like osteoporosis and rickets.

Another benefit of vitamin D to your health is related to cancer prevention. Recent studies have revealed that vitamin D is instrumental in preventing prostate cancer. In fact, some studies have shown that men who took a daily dose of vitamin D had a lower risk of prostate cancer as compared to those who did not take the supplement

Certain foods are an excellent source of vitamin D.  Milk, fish oils, fatty fish, cereals and some types of mushrooms are all excellent sources of vitamin D.

In addition, some fruits, such as oranges, are a rich source of vitamin D. However, there are only a few foods that are an excellent source of vitamin D.

vitamins-for-digestive-health

Vitamins for digestive health are important to overall health and well-being. However, it is imperative to ensure that you do not over-take vitamins. By eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, you can ensure that your body has the right amount of vitamins in order to function at its optimum level. Remember, however, that too much of anything can be toxic, so be sure to consult your doctor before increasing your daily intake of vitamins.

 

________________

1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4316104/