Our body needs vitamins and minerals to help it grow and thrive along with other nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates and dietary fats. Each of these vitamins plays a different role in our overall health. Most of us get what we need in our daily diets, with different foods providing different vitamins and minerals. However, some people may have conditions that require vitamin or mineral supplementation in addition to what they get through their normal diet. We made a list of every vitamin and mineral your body needs to stay happy and healthy!
The Top 10 Vitamins & Minerals…
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Vitamin A - Vitamin A keeps your heart, lungs, liver and other organs working properly. It's also important for reproduction, vision and immune system health.
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Vitamin B - There are eight different essential B vitamins – B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folate) & B12 (cobalamin). They all help convert carbohydrates, fats and proteins into energy. Several are also necessary for cell development, growth and function.
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Vitamin C - Vitamin C boosts the immune system and increases iron absorption from plant-based foods and supplements. Since it's an antioxidant, vitamin C protects our cells from damaging free radicals. It also aids in wound healing by helping our body produce collagen.
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Vitamin D - Vitamin D builds strong bones by helping our body absorb calcium from food and supplements. It also boosts the functioning of the immune system.
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Vitamin E - Vitamin E protects our cells from free radicals, boosts our immune system and helps prevent blood clots.
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Vitamin K - Vitamin K is necessary for blood clotting and healthy bones. You may need more vitamin K if you have had bariatric surgery to lose weight or have a malabsorption disorder.
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Calcium - About 99% of the calcium in the body is found in bones and teeth, which is crucial for structural support. The remainder is found in the blood, muscles and intracellular fluids, where it is a critical part of many metabolic, neurological and muscular functions.
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Iron - Iron is an essential part of building red blood cells, specifically haemoglobin, a protein that bonds with oxygen to oxygen through the blood from the lungs to the cells throughout your body.
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Magnesium - Magnesium plays an important role in the function of more than 300 enzymes that regulate various processes in the body, including muscle and nerve function, heart rhythms and glucose control.
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Zinc - Zinc is a mineral that plays an important role in immune function and is essential for normal growth and development during pregnancy and childhood.