When you hear the three words: vitamins, nutrients, and minerals, you think of one thing-being healthy. Nutrition is all about vitamins and nutrients. Firstly, vitamins are an organic compound required by the body in small amounts of metabolism to protect health, and to help proper the growth of children. Vitamins also assist in the formation of hormones, blood cells, nervous systems chemicals, and genetic material. There are 13 well known vitamins. Some examples of the 13 well-known vitamins are vitamin A, D, E, B, and C. A well-known vitamin that is commonly used in commercials for orange juice is vitamin C. Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is important in the making and maintenance of connective tissues. The lack of vitamin C will result in a sickness called scurvy. Scurvy harms the gums, mucous membranes, and the skin. Another well-known vitamin that is used in a lot of milk commercials is vitamin D. If you do not drink milk and obtain this vitamin, your bones and teeth will become soft and weak. Lacking one or more of the 13 well-identified vitamins will cause sickness and weakness to your body. .

             Secondly, nutrients are how the body absorbs certain compounds. Nutrients are classified in 5 major groups: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. One of the five nutrients is carbohydrate. The carbohydrate group principally consists of sugar, starch, dextrin, cellulose, and glycogen. In more basic terms, carbohydrates are sugars needed by humans and other living organisms. Some types of foods that contain carbohydrates would be candies, ice cream, fruit juice, soda, chocolate bars etc. .

             Lastly, Minerals are also a very important part of a healthy person. There are 11 major groups of minerals. They are calcium, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, and zinc. All these terms look very familiar if you have ever taken a look at the periodic table of elements.