Vitamins and minerals boost the immune system, support normal growth and development, and help cells
and organs function properly.
You know vitamins and minerals are good for you, but which ones does your body really
need?
Although you get vitamins and minerals from the foods you eat every day, some foods have more vitamins and minerals
than others. We need vitamins and minerals to make our bodies work properly.
What Are Vitamins?
Vitamins
are organic substances (made by plants).
Vitamins fall into two categories: fat soluble and water soluble. The fat-soluble
vitamins — A, D, E, and K — dissolve in fat and can be stored in your body. The water-soluble vitamins —
C and the B-complex vitamins (such as vitamins B6, B12, niacin, riboflavin, and folate) — need to dissolve in water
before your body can absorb them.
You need a fresh supply of water-soluble vitamins every day (C and the B-complex
vitamins) because your body can't store these vitamins.
What Are Minerals?
Minerals are
inorganic elements that come from the soil and water and are absorbed by plants. We need to eat plants in order to get the
minerals our bodies need.
Supplements!
There are hundreds of supplements on the market. Of course
the manufacturers want you to purchase their brand. However, beware of unproven claims about the benefits of taking more than
recommended amounts of any vitamin or mineral.
Your best bet for getting the vitamins and minerals you need is to eat
a wide variety of healthy foods and skip the vitamin pills. However, if you have to take supplements, Puritan's Pride
is a great source of vitamins and minerals.