Even though many people consider vitamins and minerals to be the same, the two are quite different. But both are necessary for a healthy life. Your body requires a certain amount of each in order to function. Learning how vitamins and minerals work within the body will help you decide which one you should pick up the next time you go shopping.

Vitamins

Taking vitamins isn’t just for children. As we get older, our bodies need help maintaining the proper levels of nutrients and nourishment. Vitamins are an easy solution. Vitamins are organic compounds that come from plants and animals. There are a number of vitamins that are essential to helping the body function, such as vitamin A for a healthy immune system, vitamin C for strong bones and vitamin E for preventing free radical damage.

Vitamins are either water-soluble or fat-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins need to be taken with water in order to dissolve but aren’t stored inside the body, whereas fat-soluble vitamins dissolve within the body’s fat cells and are stored.

When looking for vitamins to buy, take your age, health and lifestyle into consideration. Vitamins can be bought individually or combined as multivitamins. Unless you have a specific vitamin deficiency—for example, not having enough vitamin E in your body—you should take a multivitamins because they provide all the essential vitamins in one capsule/pill. There are a number of vitamins that are developed especially for women and men, as well as specific age groups. Consult with your doctor if you need help figuring out what kind of vitamins will work best for you. Most vitamins only need to be taken once a day and should be taken with food so your body absorbs it faster.

Minerals

Like vitamins, minerals are needed in the human body to promote healthy function. Unlike vitamins, however, minerals are inorganic and are found in the soil and water absorbed by plants or eaten by animals. Potassium, iron, zinc and magnesium are examples of minerals. The human body is required to consume large amounts of minerals on a daily basis to ensure proper functioning of the organs, bones, tissue and immune system. Because we lose minerals as we age, it is vital to supply your body with outside sources of minerals such as food and supplements.  

There are two types of minerals that you body requires: macrominerals and trace minerals. Macrominerals are the large amount of minerals needed by the body, while trace minerals are only needed in small amounts.

If you already eat a diet that is high in nutrition, chances are you don’t need supplements. Finding foods that contain necessary minerals are easy to find. Iron rich foods include red meat, eggs, beans, certain fish, leafy green vegetables and whole grains. Calcium is one of the most obvious and most vital minerals to consume because of the role it plays in building strong bones. Calcium can be found in milk and other dairy products. Fruits like bananas and oranges as well as legumes (beans) contain potassium. But if you have certain health issues or deficiencies, then talk to your doctor about the possibility of using mineral supplements to make sure your body is receiving the proper levels of nutrients.

While vitamins and minerals do a lot for the body, having too much can be dangerous. Consuming an excess amount can lead to toxicity. Only take your vitamins and minerals as directed by your doctor or on the product label.  

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