Are You Getting What You Need?
Eating a healthy diet remains the best way to get sufficient amounts of the vitamins and minerals you need.
What Is The Difference Between Vitamins And Minerals?
In a nutshell, vitamins are organic compounds obtained from plants and animals, whereas minerals are inorganic compounds that originate in the earth. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of vitamins and minerals, and why they’re important.
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(It also means that we tend to eliminate any excess of these vitamins when we urinate.). Minerals, on the other hand, are inorganic compounds. That means they maintain their chemical structure regardless of whether they’re exposed to air, heat, or other elements.
There are two types of minerals: major minerals and trace minerals. (4)
Major minerals are categorized as minerals needed in 100 milligrams per day or more, and include:
Calcium
Potassium
Phosphorous
Sodium
Chloride
Magnesium
Sulfur
Trace minerals (which you need less of per day) include:
Iron
Zinc
Iodine
Chromium
Selenium
Fluoride
Molybdenum
Copper
Manganese
So, vitamins are organic compounds while minerals are inorganic. Because vitamins are organic compounds, processes like cooking or improper storage can cause vitamins to break down in foods—while trace minerals found in soil or water will stay intact in the plants, fish, meat, or other foods you consume.
Another thing they have in common is that it’s not always easy to get the spectrum of vitamins and minerals we need through diet alone—which is why opting for a quality multivitamin to help fill nutrient gaps is a good idea.
What Are Fat-Soluble Vitamins?
Fat-soluble vitamins include Vitamins A, D, E and K. They’re dissolved in fat and can be stored in your body.