Vitamins and Minerals are essential elements ( Nutrients ) that our bodies require for development, good health and longevity.

Nearly all the vitamins and minerals ( essential nutrients ) we humans require can be found in our food and water. Our planet abounds with amazing foods, and nearly all food is different in its structure, taste and chemistry.

Certain vitamins and minerals are considered essential because without them our bodies wont and don't develop and function properly. Our age, our environment, genetic makeup, lifestyle (work, sport, alcohol consumption etc) can determine how much of the essential nutrients (vitamins and minerals) we need.
The human body requires different levels of vitamins and minerals over its life cycle. Folate for example is recommended in larger amounts for maintaining optimal health of unborn babies, and also said to be needed in larger amounts for women to even conceive.

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Vitamins are essential nutrients. Other nutrients include carbohydrates, protein, fat, minerals and water. Nutrients are the nutritional components in foods that an organism utilises to survive and grow.

Vitamins are essential for the healthy maintenance of cells, tissues, and organs. They enable us to use chemical energy that comes from food, and to help process the proteins, carbohydrates, and fats required for nutrition and ongoing life support.

Most of the vitamins we need are obtained from food, but there are exceptions. Very few foods contain vitamin D. The major natural source of vitamin D (specifically cholecalciferol) is synthesized in the skin with the help of the sun. This so-called "sunshine vitamin" is essential for our health but, sometimes the cure can be worse than the condition. To much sun can destroy our skin and actually endanger our health.

Vitamin supplementation is important for the treatment of certain health problems, but many studies have suggested there is little evidence of nutritional benefit when used by healthy people.

Caution should be taken when taking vitamin supplements, megadoses or taking more than our body requires can damage our organs and body systems. High doses of vitamin supplements can also conflict with prescription drugs that many of us depend on.

Eating a normal, well-balanced diet will not lead to vitamin toxicity in healthy individuals.

Vitamins from food are accompanied by many other substances that provide nutritional support for the body, our understanding of food has come a long way but, there is much research to be done in learning all the chemical processes of substances which occur within living organisms.

Eating a well balanced diet with all food groups in the best and safest option to give our body the nutrition we need.

The AAFP ( American Academy of Family Physicians represents more than 115900 family physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students. ) cites two categories of vitamins. Water-soluble vitamins and Fat-soluble vitamins. They are divided into these groups according to how they are dissolved and stored in your body.

Water-soluble vitamins - are vitamins that dissolve in water and are not stored by the body.

There are a total of nine water-soluble vitamins, these include;

Fat-soluble vitamins - are absorbed into the body with the use of bile acids, which are fluids used to absorb fat. The body stores these for use as needed.

Fat-soluble vitamins include;

Other Mineral Elements
Many elements have been suggested as essential, but such claims have usually not been confirmed. One problem with identifying the efficacy of some minerals is that some elements are innocuous (not harmful or offensive) at low concentrations (examples: silicon and nickel in solid and dust), so proof of efficacy is lacking because deficiencies are difficult to reproduce. [5]

Mineral Facts
Minerals are essential nutrients. The others include carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and water. Nutrients are the nutritional components in foods that an organism utilises to survive and grow.

Minerals are important for your body to stay healthy. Your body uses minerals for many different jobs, including building bones, making hormones and regulating your heartbeat.

	Major minerals (macrominerals) and,
	Trace minerals (microminerals).

Macrominerals are minerals your body needs in larger amounts.

Macrominerals include;

Sodium	Chloride	Potassium	Calcium	Phosphorus
Magnesium	Sulfur

Your body needs just small amounts of trace minerals.

Microminerals include;

The best way to get the minerals your body needs is by eating a wide variety of foods. A balanced diet usually provides all of the essential minerals.