Vitamins  Are essential for sustaining life;  Vitamins are present in the foods we eat, but not all vitamins are found in foods;  The way in which food is grown, stored, processed, or cooked affects the nutrients in them: Ex. Boiling vegetables in a pot without a lid will cause much of the Vitamin C to be lost;  It is important to eat fresh foods that are not processed on a daily basis.

2 Types of Vitamins Fat Soluble Vitamins:  Are stored in the fatty tissue of the body;  It is easy to develop toxic levels of these;  They are Vitamins A, D, E and K

Water Soluble Vitamins  Water soluble vitamins are needed everyday;  The body does not store these but gets rid of excess amounts;  These vitamins include the B-complex and Vitamin C.

Minerals …  Are inorganic substances (not alive) that occur naturally in the earth and bodies;  A plant is not a mineral;  Minerals are in most foods because plants take minerals from the soil as they grow;  The body uses minerals to regulate muscles, bones, nerves, sweating, growth, and a variety of other body functions.

Minerals continued …  Minerals are not damaged by heat and light like vitamins can be;  Our bodies need at least 21 different minerals. Some examples include: calcium, zinc, iron, potassium, sodium …

Minerals can be classified into two groups: Major Minerals:  We need a lot of;  Examples are: calcium and phosphorus. Trace Minerals:  We need only a little of;  Examples are iron and iodine.

 Eating your fresh fruits & vegetables is still the best way to get all of your daily vitamins and minerals requirements …