Are you getting enough vitamins and minerals from your diet? Do you even know exactly what a vitamin is? Or how many there are? The answer to those questions might surprise you. In this episode, I will take you into the world of micronutrients, specifically vitamins, to help you understand their essential role in human health. I  explain the fascinating history of vitamin discovery and explore the prevalence of micronutrient deficiency in the United States.I  explain the various functions of vitamins, their naming conventions, and concepts like provitamins. I elaborate on the 5 key roles that vitamins play, including their function as coenzymes, electron donors and acceptors, antioxidants (similar but different to the last point), and hormone-like substances. Furthermore, I lay out the [primary and secondary] causes of vitamin deficiency, elaborate on the stages of deficiency, as well as the dangers of self-diagnosis.Finally, I go into the significance of nutritional assessments for population-wide eating patterns and nutrient intakes, as well as how multivitamins can reduce the risk of nutrient deficiencies. We'll discuss the limitations of multivitamins and the importance of using them as an adjunct to a whole-food diet (in brief, as this episode is not about multivitamins or supplements). Be sure to subscribe for future episodes covering specific nutrients and strategies for achieving optimal nutrient adequacy.Support the showAltipure Multi: https://rb.gy/edunzAltipure B-Complex: https://rb.gy/2wmt7