Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients required by the body to carry out a range of normal functions. However, these micronutrients are not produced in our bodies and must be derived from the food we eat.
Find out from WebMD's slideshow which vitamins and minerals your body needs, what they do, and what foods you can eat to get them..
In humans there are 13 vitamins: 4 fat-soluble (A, D, E, and K) and 9 water-soluble (8 B vitamins and vitamin C). Water-soluble vitamins dissolve easily in water and, in general, are readily excreted from the body, to the degree that urinary output is a strong predictor of vitamin consumption. [50]
Vitamins are usually designated by selected letters of the alphabet, as in vitamin D or vitamin C, though they are also designated by chemical names, such as niacin and folic acid. Biochemists traditionally separate them into two groups, the water-soluble vitamins and the fat-soluble vitamins.
Taking the right vitamins daily helps fill nutritional gaps in your diet, but the best choices depend on your health goals. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any vitamin regimen to ensure safety and effectiveness.
What are vitamins and minerals? Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients, substances your body needs in small amounts to work properly. They’re part of your body’s internal chemistry, a complex system of chemical reactions that keep you alive and functioning.
These include vitamins, minerals, herbs and botanicals, probiotics, and more. Many of these resources are available in versions written for health professionals and for consumers (in both English and Spanish).
There are 13 essential vitamins. This means that these vitamins are required for the body to work properly. They are: Vitamins are grouped into two categories: Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body's liver, fatty tissue, and muscles. The four fat-soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E, and K.