Vitamins and Minerals - An Overview

Vitamins and minerals are important nutrients needed by body to carry out its routine processes.  Vitamins are basically organic compounds while minerals are pure inorganic elements that are much simpler in chemical form than vitamins.

While vitamins in all their forms and types are necessary for human growth and life, only a few selected minerals are important nutrients required by the body. However, one important thing regarding minerals and vitamins is that both work with each other and are needed together by body to perform its duties and carry out its functions.

Importance of Vitamins and Minerals

A healthy diet is made up of all kinds of foods and nutrient that contain minerals and vitamins. Minerals and vitamins are very necessary to carry out all the necessary functions of the body and protecting it from various illnesses and diseases.

Vitamins and minerals are derived from the food provide energy that helps body to perform its functions. Vitamins and minerals are necessary for enhancing these functions and prevent particular conditions related to these nutrients.

For example Vitamin A is believed to prevent conditions such as night-blindness, and calcium is believed to strengthen bones. In view of these two examples, it must be realized that there are several functions that minerals and vitamins have for the body.

Functions of Vitamins and Minerals in the Body

Minerals and vitamins are different types of substances required by the body to remain healthy. Vitamins are organic substances that help to maintain proper body activity and catalyze vital processes.

Vitamin A helps to prevent night blindness, build immune function and normal reproduction. It also helps in good vision. Apart from this, the various vitamin B help in maintaining a healthy body and carrying out various processes that provide energy to the body and keep it safe from diseases.

On the other hand, minerals are the elements that not only enhance body functions but form important parts of the body.  One example of this is Iron, a major constituent of hemoglobin. It is iron that helps the oxygen to reach the other parts of the body. This is the process of oxygenation and de-oxygenation of the hemoglobin; which would not be possible without iron. It is very clear that iron plays a very vital role in carrying blood to other parts of the body.

Apart from iron, calcium is also a very important mineral essential to maintain healthy bones and teeth. Apart from this, calcium is known to regulate heart beat and prevent clotting of blood. Calcium is also helpful in thyroid function and nerve impulse signals.

From the above given examples, the role of vitamins and minerals is apparent. Minerals form an important part of body functions. This is clearly in contrast to the role of vitamins. It would not be wrong to say that minerals have a larger role to play. Vitamins on the other hand have equally important roles though smaller.

Their job is to assist in major actions within the body. In view of this it must be asserted that vitamins are responsible for a great deal of chemical actions as well. They are associated with actions that promote energy though they may not be a part of creating energy. An example of this is the fact that Vitamin B6 promotes the metabolism of carbohydrates and protein.

Due to the need of human body to ensure proper functioning of the organs, tissues, bones and immune system, it needs to consumer large amounts of minerals and vitamins of daily basis. As we age and perform our daily duties, we lose these minerals and vitamins in form of energy; it is vital to supply our body with outside sources such as food and supplements to remain healthy. Thus, we cannot deny the importance of minerals and vitamins for a healthy body.