If a car needs fuel in order to function properly, our body needs nutrients in order to fully function too. These nutrients have various sources but they are mostly found in the foods that we take. Simply relying on these foods for nutrients are not enough. Not everybody is aware of the fact that nutrients are lost when these vegetables and other foods go through the process of cooking.

To compensate for the nutrients being lost we are now required to take some supplements. One essential nutrient is the vitamins. It is considered essential because we need these vitamins in order for us to live as well as stay healthy.

Vitamins play a vital role in our bodies; for example, it helps keep our skin healthy and keeps our eyes in tip top shape. Our body needs a lot of vitamins and each vitamin is different from one another, meaning there is no substitute for one vitamin. The vitamins are grouped into two.

1. Water Soluble Vitamins. From the term itself it is understood that the vitamins that belong to this classification easily dissolves in water. These types of vitamins are the ones that are usually lost when foods are being cooked or soaked in water. It also means that the food that we eat may or may not contain vitamins that belong to this classification.

Water soluble vitamins are not stored in the body and have to be replaced everyday. When an individual ingests more than what is required, the excess water soluble vitamins are being discarded by the kidneys through the urine. To avoid losing these vitamins when cooking, less water should be used and the cooking time should be decreased as much as possible. There are nine known vitamins that belong to this group and these are Thiamin or B1, Riboflavin or B2, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Biotin, Niacin, Folate, Pantothenic Acid and Vitamin C. Water soluble vitamins can found in various food sources such as milk, grains, fruits and vegetables and many more.

2. Fat Soluble Vitamins. This classification is the exact opposite of the water soluble vitamins. Fat soluble vitamins don't get washed out when cooked or soaked in water because it dissolves in fat and not in water. Fat soluble vitamins are absorbed by the body in the intestinal tract and then stored in the body fat. Since it is stored, these vitamins can be used any time you need them.

Vitamins under this group should not be taken in excess because excessive storage of fat soluble vitamins has negative results. Remember that the body does not dispose of the excess vitamins so one should keep it at the safe level. The vitamins belonging to this classification are vitamins A, D, E and K. These vitamins can be found in green leafy vegetables, egg yolk, fish oil and many more.

It is important that you are aware of the vitamin supplements that you are taking because though you can take a lot of water soluble vitamins, you cannot do the same thing for fat soluble vitamins. An adequate supply of these vitamins in your body is enough to keep you healthy and strong.