If you have ever undergone a typical childhood, taking vitamins and mineral supplements would not be strange for you. As children, parents generally take a lot of precautions to insure that we don’t get sick and that we always stay healthy. As such, fruits and vegetables were essential, along with a few tablets or syrups of vitamin supplements.

Since most of us believed and trusted our parents—though there are always exceptions who did their best to make things difficult—we just accepted the fact that vitamins were good for us. But why exactly is this?

That is a question that is rarely asked, which is a pity because it can get quite fascinating. Also, there are some misconceptions regarding vitamins that may cause some problems if not taken seriously. Therefore, here is a general discussion of how vitamins affect health with regards to the specific systems of the body.

What should be noted here though is that while certain vitamins or minerals perform specific functions, collaboration is needed between all of them before it can actually do some good. So we should not look at this as one part of the whole doing one thing and that is that. Rather, as an entire network that works best when done as one.

Circulatory System

In case you need refreshing, the circulatory system is a complex assortment of organs, blood vessels and arteries that is responsible for a healthy circulation of oxygen, nutrients, water and blood in our bodies. If it’s not functioning properly, it can result in plenty of bad things, the worst among are strokes and heart attacks. If your circulatory system is becoming a problem, it’s best to know which things can make it better.

Vitamins C, Copper and Biotin work together to strengthen the walls of blood vessels, improve connective tissue and promote better processes in the body’s enzymes. Along with Vitamins C, Vitamin E helps dilate the veins and prevents blood clotting. And with the antioxidants that they produce, free radicals are kept in check which prevents further tissue damage.

Finally, Potassium along with moderate amounts of Sodium, keeps blood pressure under control and body fluids flowing properly.

Digestive System

If you are a food lover, this particular system will be near and dear to you. The digestive system includes chewing, swallowing, digesting, and absorbing the nutrients. This is how we can take in the essential vitamins and minerals in the first place. Without it, this whole discussion would be pointless.

To keep it healthy, we need calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, Vitamin D and C for strong teeth. Niacin allows the tongue to perform more efficiently, while also promoting proper digestive functionality and keeps the surface of the digestive tract smooth. Vitamin B1 gives you a good appetite. Lastly, Vitamin B9 helps in the maintenance of the gastrointestinal tract which allows the bacteria in it to produce Vitamins K which is essential for blood to clot.

Skeletal system

Your skeletal system is the very framework of your body. It allows you to stand, move and live. Well, the last part might not be necessarily true, but who wants to live without bones? As with every system in the body therefore, maintaining it is important.

Fortunately, that is actually easier to do when compared with the others. All you need is a healthy dose of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and Vitamin K. But be careful with phosphorus though. This particular mineral is so abundant, you can find it in almost any kind of food. As such, it is possible to get too much of it which can harm you.

Nervous system

The nervous system composes of the brain, the spine and every single nerve ending you have on your body. Since this is pretty much the control system, taking it for granted can throw your body out of whack. Organs stop functioning as they should, limbs go out of control and you pretty much lose touch of your entire body.

Therefore, you will need plenty of potassium to keep a healthy nerve impulse regulation. This allows the transition of signals from your brain to your body without interruption. Ever heard that your body responds half a second after the brain? That can slow down.

Calcium aids in the development of the nervous system early on by guiding it towards the right direction. So having a lot of it while young can produce better than average system functionality. Then Vitamin B12 helps in giving your brain the fuel it needs and allows nerve transition to be smoother.