Vitamins may be defined as a group of natural food materials or nutrients that are found in living things, plants and animals. This word was derived from the term vitamin and was discovered by Dutch physician Christiana Eijkmann.

Vitamins are broadly divided into two classes based on their solubility, the fat-soluble vitamins and the water-soluble vitamins. The former Include vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin A, and vitamin K and the latter include vitamin B12, biotin, vitamin B6, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and vitamin C. Vitamins are the steps to good health. These are required in small amounts for normal metabolism and for helping in metabolizing nutrients in food to keep your body functioning well.

Vitamins get blended with other nutrients to get digested, absorbed and metabolized by the body. They are free of calories and cannot be regarded as the source of energy but, may be called as the spark to start our human machine and are unable to function without the deficiency of proper amount of vitamins. However, the excess or reduction of proper amount of vitamins can cause acute and chronic disease. Vitamins can control metabolism, helping to convert fat and carbohydrates into energy, and assisting in forming bone and tissue.

It has found out in researches that the body consumes more vitamins when it is under pressure, either from illness or daily life. There are many people, who therefore take vitamins when they feel themselves to be run down or have a cold coming on. Those who smoke and drink alcohol, their body cannot absorb vitamins. So it is advisable for those people to pay special attention to their diet or to take a vitamin supplement.

Supplements can be used as supplementary for various deficiencies when the diet does not alone can provide all necessary nutrients. Supplements are superior to diet in the case when diet cannot provide sufficient nutrient to your body. Most people consume foods rich in vitamins and do not need to take a vitamin supplement. But many people do not consume such varied foods and may become deficient in some vitamins. Elderly people often get ill due to deficiency of vitamins in their body because of not consuming varied foods rich in vitamins. They may be benefited from a vitamin supplement.

For over a period, herbs have been regarded as the oldest and probably one of the best remedy to prevent disease. Herbs provide excellent support to your body. Herbs or botanicals are one of oldest health care tools as well as the basis of many modern medicines.

Primitive and ancient civilizations depend on herbs for healing. It has gained popularity in the modern period throughout the world. They may even used in serious conditions like cancer, diabetes, heart disease and others and people have been benefited in using herbs supplements. Certain herbs can even substantially reduce or negate the therapeutic effects of certain medicines. Herbal supplements are used as medicines than as food because they provide healing intention rather than supplying nutrition.