Vitamins and minerals ( nutrients) are found in whole foods, although some foods are fortified with nutrients ( meaning they are added , ie: more processing) and supplements. Our bodies need nutrients – like cars need their gas or vegetable oil! – to function optimally. They have so many jobs in our body; acting as cofactors in many biochemical reactions ( for A to get to B it will need a cofactor), to maintaining proper nerve and muscle function to the growing of tissues and boosting our immune systems.
Here is the low down on them:
Vitamins:
Vitamins are organic substances which means that they are made by plants or animals. There are two categories of vitamins.
Water Soluble Vitamins need to dissolve in water before your body can absorb them. Unfortunately, our bodies can not store these ( thus the name – water soluble) vitamins so whatever the body does not use once through the system, it will most likely sweat, or urinate it out.
They include:
- C and the B-complex vitamins – B6, B12, niacin, riboflavin, folate
The Fat Soluble Vitamins can be store in the body and they include:
- A, D, E and K
Minerals:
Minerals are inorganic substances. This means that they come form soil and water that are absorbed or eaten by plants or animals. There are categories of minerals – the main ones and the trace minerals ( which you need only small amounts every day).
The main minerals include:
- potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus
Trace minerals include:
- chromium, iron, selenium, zinc, iodine, boron,manganese and a few more
I plan over time to write and post blogs on the individual nutrients including food sources and functions in the body. I find that understanding what specific nutrients do in the body allows for pro-activity in eating more of the foods that contain these nutrients. Kids really love this concept!
Be well,
Image credit: muammer
{ 2 trackbacks }
{ 0 comments… add one now }