What is the Difference Between Vitamins and Mineral Supplements?
Vitamins and minerals work together to help improve your health. Below is a basic guide to nutrients, minerals, and vitamins.
Nutrients
Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and water.
Minerals
Calcium, iodine, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. Other are chlorine, chromium, cobalt, copper, fluorine, manganese, molybdenum, potassium, selenium, sodium, sulfur, and vanadium.
Vitamins
A (carotene, retinol), B-Complex, C (ascorbic acid), D (calciferol), E (tocopherol), F (fatty acids), G (riboflavin), H (biotin), K, L (lactation), M (folic acid), P (bioflavonoids), T (promotes growth), and U.
Why Take Mineral Supplements?
The main reason for taking mineral supplements is that vitamins need the aid of minerals to be assimilated. That means you need to take mineral supplements to get the benefits of vitamins.
Chelated mineral supplements provide much greater assimilation as compared to nonchelated minerals. Chelation is the process whereby mineral substances are changed into digestible form.
Storing Mineral Supplements
Both vitamins and minerals should be stored in a cool, dry place. If properly stored, sealed mineral supplements may last 2 - 3 years. Opened bottles may have a lower shelf life, maybe 1 year.
Related Articles