Vitamins And Minerals

By Author: Carl Juneau
Total Articles: 3764
Comment this article

Vitamins and minerals are substances inside all foods that we need in small amounts to regulate all the body's chemical reactions for optimizing our energy, day after day. There are 13 vitamins and 17 essential minerals:

- 4 fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E,K)

- 9 water soluble vitamins (C and eight B-complex vitamins)

- Minerals: calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, zinc, fluoride, iron, iodine, selenium, and copper, among others.

For more information on what exactly each of these vitamins and minerals do, check out:
http://www.pharmics.com/vitamins.htm

You do not need to worry about lacking vitamins and minerals if you eat a varied, balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, meat, nuts, and cereals (bread, rice or pasta).
In the winter however, when exposure to sunlight is low, you might need a supplement of vitamin D if you don't eat foods with added vitamin D (e.g., milk). This is because vitamin D is produced in your skin upon exposure to sunlight. Vegetarians and vegans are especially prone to a lack of Vitamin D. Watch out, though: supplementing ...
... with too much vitamin D can be toxic.
If you think you may be eating insufficient vitamin D, we recommend you consult your doctor or registered dietitian.