Vitamins and Me
How many times have we seen the following caption in TV commercials: enriched with vitamins and minerals; or to the doctor's office prescribe multivitamins for us, because we feel weak and tired; Or I remember a long time ago when there were commercials on TV recommending the folic acid intake (Vitamin B9) during pregnancy.
The fact is, almost all of us have heard the word “vitamin” and know that it’s important to get enough of them to stay healthy, but, What exactly do they do in our bodies that makes them so important?
Vitamins are a group of substances that are essential for the proper functioning of cells.
Without them, we begin to experience a series of symptoms that will worsen over time and may eventually become irreversible.
The most common vitamins are A, the B complex, C, D, E, and K. Vitamin K is not very well known because, unlike other vitamins, we have the remarkable ability to produce it ourselves.
We have to obtain the rest of our vitamins through our diet or, in certain cases—such as with vitamin D—complete their synthesis through exposure to sunlight.
Vitamins play a role in many processes that are essential for life. For example, vitamin A helps keep our eyesight healthy.
Vitamin C boosts our immune system, and vitamin D helps keep our bones strong.
The B-complex consists of 8 vitamins that play a role in many processes, ranging from the formation and maintenance of the brain to the differentiation of organs and tissues.
Whether due to a lack of time or our lifestyle, we often fail to meet our daily vitamin requirements.
The first thing we think of to make up for this is: “As a preventive measure, I’m going to buy this multivitamin and take one every day—after all, it’s better to have too many than too few.” But this mistake can have repercussions for our health in the medium and long term.
The hypervitaminosis is a clinical condition caused by excessive vitamin intake, The body begins to recognize them as a toxic substance. The liver is the organ most affected, since its job is to convert it into a form that the body can eliminate; however, when there are such large amounts, it begins to work excessively, leading to significant liver damage.
Apparently, if I don't meet my minimum requirement, it affects me, but if I consume too much, that also has consequences. So, What is the optimal fuel consumption, and how will I know how to achieve it? The answer lies in your genes.
Your genetics will tell you whether you absorb a vitamin or micronutrient well or poorly. After all, DNA is the code of living beings. It contains the information that makes us who we are. And since it’s a code that replicates itself, it’s prone to errors with each copy that’s made. These errors cause things in the body to not function properly, and this is where deficiencies occur—not because of a lack of nutrients, but because we lack the ability to metabolize them correctly.
At Genolife, we offer several genetic tests that help you determine whether you metabolize vitamins and minerals efficiently. We have a variety of tests available for this purpose. Starting with the simplest one, Vitalife®, the basic one would be ADNfood®, and the most comprehensive, ADNLife® which also informs you of your predisposition to certain conditions, whether clinical, genetic, or metabolic.
To wrap things up, it’s good to understand our genetics to guide us and achieve a better quality of life, but this knowledge is like engaging in regular physical activity. We must be aware that if we don’t take action, there will be consequences—that without the discipline to do something about it, my results will just be another file on my phone. That’s why we strongly recommend continuing to follow up with a doctor or nutritionist, because remember, these tests provide vital information—information to help you lead a healthy and fulfilling life.
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