Collection: Vitamins & Supplements
Supplements you need for overall health.
Vitamins and minerals are two of the main types of nutrients that your body needs to survive and stay healthy. . Vitamins and minerals do not provide calories, rather, they work with each other and with other essential nutrients (carbohydrates, protein, fats) to start many chemical processes for growth, maintenance of well-being, and possibly, prevention of disease.
What are Vitamins?
Vitamins are organic compounds that people need in small quantities for normal cell function, growth, and development.
There are 13 essential vitamins. This means that these vitamins are required for the body to work properly. They are:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- Vitamin B3 (niacin)
- Pantothenic acid (B5)
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
- Biotin (B7)
- Folate (folic acid or B9)
- Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)
Vitamins are grouped into two categories:
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Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body's liver, fatty tissue, and muscles. The four fat-soluble vitamins are:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
These vitamins are absorbed more easily by the body in the presence of dietary fat.
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Water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body. The nine water-soluble vitamins are vitamin C and all the B vitamins.
- Thiamin (vitamin B1)
- Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
- Niacin (vitamin B3)
- Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)
- Pyridoxine (vitamin B6)
- Biotin (vitamin B7)
- Folic acid (folate, vitamin B9)
- Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12)
Any leftover or excess amounts of these leave the body through the urine. They have to be consumed on a regular basis to prevent shortages or deficiencies in the body. The exception to this is vitamin B12, which can be stored in the liver for many years.
What are minerals?
Minerals are inorganic elements that are essential to body functions such as maintenance of acid-base balance, normal hemoglobin levels and osmotic pressure. Minerals are components of vitamins, hormones, enzymes and many stable complexes in bone and tissues.
For optimal health, we require the following minerals: Calcium, Iodine, Phosphorus, Chloride, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Selenium, Copper, Sodium, Zinc & many more.
The difference between vitamins and minerals
Although they are all considered micronutrients, vitamins and minerals differ in basic ways. Vitamins are organic and can be broken down by heat, air, or acid. Minerals are inorganic and hold on to their chemical structure.
Major minerals
The body needs, and stores, fairly large amounts of the major minerals. These minerals are no more important to your health than the trace minerals; they’re just present in your body in greater amounts.
Major minerals travel through the body in various ways. Potassium, for example, is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, where it circulates freely and is excreted by the kidneys, much like a water-soluble vitamin. Calcium is more like a fat-soluble vitamin because it requires a carrier for absorption and transport.
Function of Major minerals
One of the key tasks of major minerals is to maintain the proper balance of water in the body. Sodium, chloride, and potassium take the lead in doing this. Three other major minerals—calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium are important for healthy bones. Sulfur helps stabilize protein structures, including some of those that make up hair, skin, and nails.
Major minerals
- Calcium
- Chloride
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Sulfur
Trace minerals
Trace minerals are normally found in your body in smaller amount. Yet their contributions are just as essential as those of major minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, which each account for more than a pound of your body weight.
Trace minerals
- Chromium
- Copper
- Fluoride
- Iodine
- Iron
- Manganese
- Molybdenum
- Selenium
- Zinc
