Vitamins are a group of organic compounds that are essential t o help us grow, reproduce, and stay healthy. Vitamins are typically placed into two groups: fat-soluble (dissolve in fat) and water-soluble (dissolve in water). Water-soluble vitamins include all the B-vitamins and Vitamin C. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E, and K. Having a healthy balanced diet is the first step to ensuring that we get our vitamins, but we can’t always be sure that we’re getting enough. Vitamins can be sensitive to external environmental factors such as temperature which means that cooking and storage methods can cause vitamin losses from food. Eating some vitamin-rich foods with other foods and drinks can even prevent absorption. For example, drinking alcohol inhibits B vitamin absorption. This is why some manufacturers may decide to fortify their foods. Despite this, nearly one-third of the US population is at risk of being deficient in at least one vitamin, and even those considered to be consuming an adequate diet were still deficient. When we don’t have enough of a specific vitamin, we start getting symptoms that indicate deficiency (e.g., B12 deficiency can have symptoms of tingling in the hands and feet). However, deficiency can usually be resolved if we start taking the appropriate nutrition therapy. Insufficient amounts of some vitamins have been associated with an increased risk of cancer, type II diabetes as well as immune system disorders. As we age, meeting the recommended intake for important B vitamins as well as vitamin D becomes increasingly difficult, so supplements are recommended.