Vitamins and minerals
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We need vitamins and minerals for our bodies to function properly, and you can find them in lots of different foods. Different vitamins and minerals do different things: for example, some help your body to digest food while others build strong bones. Here, we explain more about these essential nutrients.
What are vitamins?
There are two types of vitamins.
Fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E and K). These can be stored by your body but they should also be eaten as part of a healthy diet.
Water-soluble vitamins (all other vitamins such as B6, B12, C and folic acid). You can't store these in your body so you need to eat a steady supply from your diet.
What are minerals and trace elements?
Your body needs small amounts of minerals and trace elements to function properly. They're as essential as vitamins and your body has to get them from the food you eat. For example, you need:
- calcium to make strong bones
- zinc to help your digestive and immune systems to work
- iron to help y...
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