The Difference Between Vitamins and Minerals: A Basic Guide

It’s no secret that we Americans need to better our understanding of nutrition. When over eighty percent of the population suffers from a magnesium deficiency, there’s something seriously wrong with both our intake levels and our knowledge base. In fact, many people struggle to understand the difference between vitamins and minerals.

Do you have trouble telling your vitamins from your minerals? Do you struggle to find the best multivitamin supplements to handle your nutritional needs? Then never fear! Our helpful guide will tell you all that you need to know.

What Is a Vitamin?

For starters, let’s define what a vitamin is. A vitamin is an organic compound that your body can absorb, which is broken down in a variety of ways. For instance, water-soluble vitamins like the B and C complexes break down in the water, while fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K break down in fat.

What Are the Benefits of Vitamins?

Vitamins can have a variety of benefits for our bodies. These benefits include helping us see, breathe, circulate blood, digest food, and regenerate cells. If you’re deficient in a certain vitamin, you may feel fatigued, get sick more often, or have trouble with brain functions.

If your doctor suspects you have a deficiency, they may recommend that you take supplements, such as Multivitamin Tablets By Vitabiotics.

What Is a Mineral?

A mineral, by contrast, is an inorganic compound that won’t break down when exposed to air, water, or heat. Before you get up in arms about letting something “inorganic” into your body, remember that many minerals such as copper, magnesium, calcium, iron, and even sodium are crucial to the body’s ability to function.

What Are the Benefits of Minerals?

As we mentioned above, there are many essential minerals that are necessary to the body’s ability to function. They help you build bones, skin, and hair. They also maintain equilibrium in many of your body’s systems. This includes the body’s ability to balance water and construct proteins.

What’s the Difference Between Vitamins and Minerals?

So, as you might have noticed, the main difference between vitamins and minerals lies in their structure. Vitamins are organic, which means that if a food is stored or prepared the wrong way, it can lose its nutritional value. Minerals, on the other hand, retain their structure regardless of the environment they’re in, so trace minerals from the soil and an animal’s previous meals can pass on to you after cooking.

You need certain amounts of both vitamins and minerals for your body to function. And, frankly, most people aren’t getting enough of either.

Your Journey Towards Health Doesn’t End Here

Now that you understand the difference between vitamins and minerals, you can take the next steps on your journey towards a healthier life. If you need more ideas about where you can find the nutrients you need, or wonder whether or not you should be taking a multivitamin, we’ve got you covered. Check out our blog each day for more helpful and informative content like this!

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