You Are What You Eat. Sort Of. Understanding Nutrient Bioavailability
You Are What You Eat
You probably learned in grade school that good nutrition is best! The nutrients from food is released and absorbed into the bloodstream. They then make their way to the various organs and tissues that need them. Do you know that not every nutrient is absorbed by the body and totally used up? This is nutrient bioavailability. So while nutrient availability may be high in a specific food or vitamin supplement, it may not have bioavailability.
Why Does Bioavailability Matter?
Nutrient bioavailability is particularly important because of its significant impact on cellular metabolism, which is the process that takes place in a cell and is necessary for the maintenance of life. It’s how cells grow, repair damage, and adapt to changes in the environment. Bone cells, brain cells, and liver cells all have different functions, but they all have one thing in common: They need the right nutrients to perform efficiently.
Factors Affecting Bioavailability
There are a numbers of factors that effect nutrient bioavailability. Digestion is a complex series of actions, and small complications early in the process can snowball into bigger issues later on. It also can vary widely from person to person. Two people can consume the same nutrients in the same form, but their bodies will wind up absorbing and utilizing different amounts of it.
Your overall health, the particular ratio of enzymes present in your body, and even seemingly insignificant things like how thoroughly you chew your food can affect the efficiency of your digestive system. This, of course, impacts the bioavailability of nutrients in the food you eat, which can further affect things like organ function and enzyme production. This can alter your digestive system efficiency, which again influences nutrient bioavailability, and on and on in true cyclical fashion.
Other factors that impact nutrient bioavailability include:
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Age — This is one of the primary factors, as a person’s nutritional needs can vary throughout their lifetime.
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Digestive disorders — Conditions such as Crohn’s, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic heartburn, and celiac disease can seriously undercut the body’s ability to absorb and use nutrients properly.
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Interactive nutrients — Some nutrients are supportive nutrients, meaning that when they are consumed together, they support one another’s bioavailability. One such example is magnesium, calcium, and vitamin D. On the other hand, some nutrient combinations impede each other, and negatively affect the other’s absorption.
The Problem with Traditional Supplements
Some conventional supplements and multivitamins use binders, fillers, and various additives that make the nutrients difficult for the body to absorb them. They can also be degraded by saliva, stomach acid, and other digestive fluids, which results in only a small percentage of the nutrients getting where they’re supposed to go.
Vasayo utilizes naturally structured, non-GMO liposomes to combat the challenges of nutrient absorption. Liposomes are spheres of lipids, or fats, that Vasayo uses to encapsulate and help protect the nutrient, ensuring that it reaches its intended destination. Their composition helps them to pass through the harsh environment of the digestive tract intact. As a result, nutrient absorption and utilization rates are improved.*
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Vasayo products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
The content herein is provided for general information purposes only. It should not be a substitute to any medical advice from a health professional. It should also not substitute any diagnosis or treatment. Persons with health concerns or who are taking medications should consult with their healthcare provider prior to using Vasayo products. Vasayo products are not intended for persons under 18, pregnant or nursing women.