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Vitamins and Minerals

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Vitamins are organic substances that the body needs in minute amounts and that we ingest with our goods. Vitamins do not supply energy, nor do they contribute substantially to the mass of the body, rather, they act as catalysts, substances that help to trigger other reactions in the body.


There are two basic categories of vitamins:

  1. Water-soluble vitamins:

The water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body, and any excessive amounts are flushed out in the urine.

  1. Fat-soluble vitamins:

Fat-soluble vitamins are dissolved and stored in the fatty tissues of the body.

It is necessary to take in water-soluble vitamins on a daily basis, but the fat-soluble vitamins can be ingested less often.

Water-Soluble Vitamins

B6 (pyridoxine)

B1 (thiamine)

B2 (Riboflavin)


Pantothenic acid



Folacin (folic acid)

B12 (cyanocobalamin)

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)


Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamin A

Vitamin D

Vitamin E

Vitamin K



Minerals are inorganic substances that the body needs in very small quantities. There are twenty-two metallic elements in the body, which make up about 4% of total body weight.

Minerals are found abundantly in the soil and water of the planet eventually are taken in by the root systems of plants. Human beings obtain minerals by eating the plants or by eating the animals that eat the plants. If you eat a variety of meats and vegetables in your diet; you can usually depend on getting a sufficiency of minerals.

The minerals in the body play a part in a variety of metabolic processes, and contribute to the synthesis of such elements as glycogen, protein, and fats.

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