Sponsored Post: What are vitamins?

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential, LLC on behalf of Vitafusion. 

I started taking a vitamin at a very early age, probably when I was old enough to chew a Flintstones vitamin. Back then, I didn't know how good they were for me. I just new they tasted like candy. And what kid doesn't like candy? 

But the older I got, the less I took my vitamin. I don't remember when I grew out of Flintstones vitamins, but whatever vitamin I grew into was far less flavorful. And I couldn't chew it. But I kept a giant bottle of them on my dresser, even through college—I failed to take one on most days of the week. Let's face it, it's damn hard to remember to take your vitamin. And then I got pregnant with Hannah, which likened my daily vitamin to a pill full of gold. My baby needed that gold, and only I could give it to her. I was not about to deny my baby a single thing, so I made it my job to take my prenatal vitamin every single day. And I did. Even after she was born, I stuck to the program because we were breastfeeding.

We stopped that in January when Hannah turned one, and I've found myself struggling again with the daily intake thing. So when FitFluential, LLC offered up the chance to sample some Vitafusion® MultiVites, I took it as the kick-in-the-pants I needed to get back into the habit again.

I mean, gummy vitamins. It's like I'm chewing Flintstones vitamins again. Vitafusion® makes nutrition taste good by combining the power of vitamins with a great-tasting gummy. But what ARE vitamins anyway? Why do I need them...and why do I need them in supplement form? Shouldn't I be getting all the vitamins I need from the foods that I eat? Yes...kind of. It's not that easy, which is why people supplement.

Let's discuss.

Vitafusion® MultiVites are specially formulated for adults which means that they offer up a combination of key vitamins. And there are 13 key vitamins that are necessary for base, everyday activity. Can you name them?

Each of these vitamins plays a, well...vital role in the aforementioned area of base, everyday activity. Vitamin C, for example, can be found in citrus fruits like oranges and helps build up the structure of bones and muscles, even your gums. Biotin comes from legumes. Did you know that it helps your metabolism break down fats, among other things?

Lesson: There really is some truth to the whole well-balanced diet thing. And if you practice this, it's not hard to get your vitamins from the foods you eat. But we're not perfect. And it's easy to become deficient in one or more of the essential vitamins listed above. So this is why a daily vitamin is often recommended. Obviously a conversation with your doctor or a registered dietitian can produce such a recommendation, but really...most people just take them. Nine of the 13 vitamins are water-soluble, which means anything in excess is lost when you, um...urinate (sorry). But Vitamins A, D, K and E are fat-soluble, which means your body stores them for extended periods of time. Usually this isn't a problem, but the risk of toxicity from overconsumption is absolutely present.

Generally speaking, most multi-vitamins are fairly balanced. And since we human folk have a hard time eating absolutely positively perfectly, the risk of toxicity might be somewhat low for most. Again, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian if you have concerns.

Verdict: If you aren't taking a vitamin already, it wouldn't hurt to have a conversation with your doctor. If recommended, or if you decide on your own to take one, you might like Vitafusion® MultiVites because gummy vitamins make taking your daily vitamins easy and more enjoyable.

I feel like I'm taking my Flintstones vitamins again.

They're delicious, sure, thanks to berry, peach and orange flavors. But they're much easier to consume than the must-swallow alternatives which makes them winners in my book. Man, vitamins can be huge.

Best part? You can find them somewhat inexpensively in drug and grocery stores nationwide, including Costco, Walmart, Target and CVS. Vitafusion® actually offers up a pretty good portfolio of vitamins, minerals and supplements to meet all of your health needs through a variety of different life stages.

So if gummy is your thing, go Vitafusion®. You might think you're chewing two pieces of candy every morning, but it's just your vitamin.

Question: Do you take a multi-vitamin? What other supplements do you consume?