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I know very little about nutrition but have wondered whether taking supplements actually help, or if it's the process that _creates_ those vitamins that's actua
by spurgu 6y ago
I know very little about nutrition but have wondered whether taking supplements actually help, or if it's the process that _creates_ those vitamins that's actually important/healthy.
Like in your example, being exposed to sunlight starts a process in our body that's healthy for our bodies, and vitamin D is just a by-product... and taking it as supplements wouldn't really do anything as we're missing the process.
As I said I have no idea what I'm talking about.
- rossdavidh 6y agoIt could easily be some of both, in which case a supplement is not necessarily worthless, but not as good as sunlight (and the exercise and stress reduction that often goes with it).
- heavyset_go 6y ago> if it's the process that _creates_ those vitamins that's actually important/healthy. By definition, vitamins are substances needed by an organism that it can't create itself, and must be obtained in its diet.
- jwilk 6y agoVitamin D is technically not a vitamin: https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/88/2/491S/4649916#111229508 https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/88/2/491S/4649916#1112...
- 0_____0 6y agovit D is an exception here, iirc it's the only 'vitamin' that doesn't fit those criteria
- dehrmann 6y agoVitamin D is arguably not a vitamin because we produce it when exposed to sunlight and it's actually a hormone. I guess that makes sunlight the vitamin.