Everything you need to know about vitamin absorption

Believe it or not, taking the vitamin and mineral supplements you think your body needs or getting the correct amount of vitamins through your diet, may not get you any closer to achieving optimal wellness. Keep reading to learn more about vitamin absorption and how you can get the most out of your supplements and diet. 

Vitamin Absorption 

How vitamins and minerals are absorbed by the body is as important as the vitamins and minerals we put into our bodies. Eating a well-balanced, healthy diet is a great place to start but it doesn’t guarantee proper vitamin absorption. Taking a daily supplement may help, but also does not ensure you are getting enough of all the nutrients you need for your body to function properly. 

Adequate absorption is needed in order for the vitamins and minerals we take to benefit our bodies and well-being. If you get vitamins orally (via food or tablets), then absorption occurs in the small intestine as part of the digestion process.

After chewing and swallowing our food, or taking a vitamin supplement, it travels to the stomach where it is broken down into carbohydrates, fats, and proteins by acids and enzymes. This digestive process extracts the vitamins and minerals to allow them to be absorbed.

Factors Affecting Vitamin Absorption 

Vitamin absorption is affected by a number of factors. The type of vitamin, genetic mutations, and even stress can affect the absorption rate of vitamins and minerals. 

Type of Vitamin 

Water-soluble vitamins and fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed and stored by the body differently. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water and because of that, they are absorbed directly into the bloodstream as food is broken down during digestion or as a supplement dissolves. Many of these types of vitamins must be consumed regularly because they are generally not stored by the body. 

Fat-soluble vitamins gain entry to the blood via lymph channels in the intestinal wall. These types of vitamins dissolve in fats, which then travel through the small intestines and are eventually distributed through the bloodstream. Excess amounts of these vitamins are stored by the body, but that doesn’t mean that supplementation isn’t necessary. If you are deficient in a fat-soluble vitamin, supplementing it may be beneficial. 

MTHFR Mutation 

The abbreviation MTHFR refers to a relatively common genetic mutation. It stands for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, and having this mutation may lead to high levels of homocysteine in the blood and low levels of folate and other vitamins. Supplementing with folic acid could combat this condition. 

Smoking & Alcohol 

We all know that alcohol and smoking can negatively impact our well-being, but you may not know that these activities can reduce vitamin absorption. Smoking lowers the intake of vitamin C while alcohol decreases the body’s ability to absorb folate as well as other vitamins. 

Stress

Stress is a major anti-nutrient! When we are stressed, healthy eating usually takes a backseat, alcohol use increases, self-care drops off and you’re left feeling pretty awful and in need of nutrients. Not knowing how to get your nutrition back on track can also add to the stress. 

Vitamin absorption is crucial to living your best life and reaching your wellness goals. Knowing which vitamins you may need to add into your diet can be difficult to nail down. However, there is one way to figure out exactly what nutrients your body needs to reach its full potential! 

10X Health Precision Genetic Test 

If there was only a test that could tell you exactly what nutrients your body is deficient in and exactly what supplements you need to take in order to get your nutrition on track, right? 

You’re in luck, because there is! 

10X Health’s Precision Genetic Test gives you the information you need, based on your genetic data, to reach your optimal wellness. The Precision Test is a one-time, easy to take test that provides you with specific information about how your body is currently working and how you can improve the way your body functions. 

Precise supplementation is one of the most effective ways to steer your nutrition onto the right path. Taking vitamins and supplements at random because you think your body needs them can be a waste of time, money, and energy. The Precision Genetic Test uncovers any nutritional deficiencies or gene mutations you may have (like the MTHFR mutation) and personalizes a supplement plan just for you. 

Not only does the Precision Test offer a customized supplement plan based on your genetic data, the results also include foods that you should and shouldn’t eat, exercises that will work for you, and if applicable, a Precision Weight Supplement for weight loss, all crafted from your genetic data. 

10X Health’s supplements and vitamins are crafted to maximize vitamin absorption and help maintain optimal blood nutrient levels throughout the day with slow-release technology. Each nutrient in 10X Health’s supplements and vitamins is dosed to the milligram or microgram based on your health data to ensure you’re getting the exact dose to support optimal wellness. 

Get your health and nutrition moving towards optimal wellness! Order the 10X Health Precision Genetic Test today and learn exactly what you need to reach your wellness goals!