One of the most important parts of a healthy lifestyle is incorporating vitamins and minerals. If you do not know what these are below is a chart of all the essential vitamins and minerals, as well as their functions.
Vitamins are organic substances. This means they come from plants and animals. Vitamins are needed for human health and development.
Vitamin A
- Growth and development
- Immune function
- Red blood cell formation
- Reproduction
- Vision
Vitamin B1
- Thiamine
- Converts food to energy
- Nervous system function
Vitamin B2 Riboflavin
- Converts food to energy
- Used for growth and development
- Red blood cell formation
Vitamin B3 Niacin
- Produces Cholesterol
- Converts food to energy
- Aids digestion
- Nervous system function
Vitamin B5 Pantothenic
- Acid-Converts food to energy
- Fat metabolism
- Hormone production
- Red blood cell formation
Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine
- Immune function
- Nervous system function
- Protein, carbohydrate, and fat metabolism
- Red blood cell formation
Vitamin B7 Biotin
- Energy storage
- Macronutrient metabolism
Vitamin B9 Folate
- Prevention of birth defects
- Protein Metabolism
- Red blood cell formation
Vitamin B12
- Converts food to energy
- Nervous system function
- Red blood cell formation
Vitamin C
- Antioxidant
- Collagen and connective tissue formation
- Immune function
- Wound healing
Vitamin D
- Blood pressure regulation
- Bone growth
- Calcium balance
- Hormone balance
Vitamin E
- Antioxidant
- Formation of blood vessels
- Immune function
Vitamin K
- Blood clotting,
- Strong bones
Minerals are inorganic substances, meaning they come from the soil and water. These include substances that are important for bone health and other body functions.
Calcium
- Blood clotting
- Bone teeth formation
- Constricts and relaxes blood vessels
- Hormone secretion
- Muscle contraction
Chloride
- Converts food to energy,
- Fluid balance
- Digestion
Chromium
- Insulin function
- Macronutrient metabolism
Copper
- Antioxidant
- Bone formation
- Collagen connective tissue formation
- Energy production
- Iron metabolism
Iodine
- Growth & development,
- Metabolism
- Reproduction
Iron
- Energy production
- Growth,
- Immune function
- Red blood cell formation
- Reproduction
Magnesium
- Blood pressure regulation
- Bone formation,
- Energy production,
- Hormone secretion,
- Immune function,
- Muscle contraction
Manganese
- Carbohydrate, protein, & cholesterol metabolism
- Cartilage & bone healing
Molybdenum
- Enzyme production
Phosphorus
- Bone formation
- Energy formation
- Storage
Potassium
- Blood pressure regulation
- Carbohydrate metabolism
- Fluid balance
- Muscle contraction
- Protein formation
Selenium
- Antioxidant,
- Reproduction,
- Thyroid function
Sodium
- Muscle contraction
- Blood pressure regulation
Zinc
- Growth development,
- Immune function,
- Retraction,
- Protein formation,
- Taste & smell
