The human body needs certain nutrients to function properly. Carbohydrates, proteins and fats deliver organic molecules that are necessary to provide energy and perform several vital functions. Besides these molecules, minerals and vitamins are also fundamentally required nutrients.

Mighty minerals

Minerals are anorganic molecules that are a part of earth. Since plants grow in earth, they too contain minerals. And because animals eat plants, they also have minerals in their system, albeit in relatively small amounts.

The human body does not require a huge amount of minerals, but some, however, are of fundamental importance for the normal functioning of your body. These are called essential minerals; minerals of which only a very small dose is required are called trace elements.

All essential minerals and trace elements can be found in the periodical system. They’re non-living substances that are present in earth and the atmosphere and, as a logical consequence of this, also in living organisms. Elements such as carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are the main constituents of organic components such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. There are also other anorganic elements that play a vital role in the human body. Phosphor, for example, can be found in the bonds that keep DNA strands together. Potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium contribute to the normal functioning of the body as well, with important roles in the regulation of the heart rate, muscle contractions and the fluid balance.

Vital vitamins

Vitamins are organic molecules that naturally occur in all living things (and not just in pills or supplements).

Vitamins regulate the building of tissues and cells, assist the metabolism, stimulate healing processes and prevent disease. They’re constituted of the same parts as carbohydrates, proteins and fats, but don’t have to be broken down to be used. They don’t provide energy and are very small, so most of the time, they’re transported through the human body by protein molecules (which are relatively large) to make sure that their tasks can be performed.

Vitamins that can be dissolved in fat (A, D, E and K) have to be ingested by fat molecules (more precisely by phospholipids) before they can be used by the cells. The phospholipids transport the vitamins through the bloodstream to the target cells.

Vitamins that can be dissolved in water (the B-vitamins and vitamin C) often function as enzymes, that speed up chemical reactions. Vitamins A, C and E are also considered to be antioxidants.