Vitamins and Minerals essays

Vitamins and Minerals essays We see every cereal commercial that says how certain cereals are "packed with essential vitamins and minerals", but do we ever stop and think about what vitamins and minerals do for our bodies. Probably not! However, human bodies are unable to function without proteins, carbohydrates, and fats-or the nutrients that we call vitamins and minerals. They help protect our health. Vitamins are organic substances that must be provided in small quantities by the environment (usually the diet) and are classified in two categories. Vitamins are classified into water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins. These organic molecules are required in order for a human to have a normal metabolism. Minerals are essential parts of all cells. They form the major parts of the hard tissues of the body, and are necessary to muscle contraction, thinking, and nervous conduction. They are integral parts of the organismal and cellular respiration systems, are essential to enzyme function and are also necessary to the maintenance of water and acid base balance in the body. Vitamins and minerals must be taken daily because they are lost in sweat, tears, urine, and feces. Young children, and pregnant women require higher amounts of vitamins and minerals, however every person should take vitamins everyday. When you drink milk, or eat a carrot, you probably do not realize the good you are doing for your body because they taste good. However, there are essential foods everyone should eat in order to obtain the right amount of vitamins per day. Fortified milk, and tuna fish have Vitamin D, which helps give your body strong, healthy bones. Carrots have Vitamin A, which helps your eyesight and skin. Vitamin A can also be found in various fruits and vegetables such as, apricots, nectarines, spinach, pumpkin, and cantaloupe. Green vegetables provide Vitamin B, which makes energy and protein within your body. Minerals come from differe ...