Multivitamins & Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients that your body needs in small amounts to function properly. They help your body with a variety of tasks, including:

• Building and repairing tissues: Vitamins and minerals are essential for the growth and repair of tissues throughout your body. For example, vitamin A is essential for the growth of new cells in the skin, while vitamin C is essential for the formation of collagen, a protein that helps to keep your skin strong and healthy.
• Producing energy: Vitamins and minerals play an important role in the production of energy. For example, vitamin B1 (thiamine) is essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates, which are the body's main source of energy.
• Regulating metabolism: Vitamins and minerals help to regulate your metabolism, which is the process by which your body converts food into energy. For example, vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is essential for the production of ATP, a molecule that is used to store energy in your cells.
• Protecting your cells from damage: Vitamins and minerals are antioxidants, which means they help to protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage your cells and lead to chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Vitamins A, C, E, and K are all antioxidants that help to protect your cells from damage.
• Boosting your immune system: Vitamins and minerals help to boost your immune system, which is your body's defence against infection. For example, vitamin C is essential for the production of white blood cells, which are the body's first line of defence against infection.

Here is a list of vitamins and minerals along with their main functions within the human body:

Vitamins

• Vitamin A: Helps with vision, growth, and development.
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine): Helps with the metabolism of carbohydrates.
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): Helps with the production of ATP.
• Vitamin B3 (niacin): Helps with the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
• Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid): Helps with the production of energy.
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine): Helps with the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates.
• Vitamin B7 (biotin): Helps with the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
• Vitamin B9 (folate): Helps with the production of red blood cells and DNA.
• Vitamin B12 (cobalamin): Helps with the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
• Vitamin C: Helps to protect cells from damage and boost the immune system.
• Vitamin D: Helps with the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, which are important for building and maintaining strong bones.
• Vitamin E: Helps to protect cells from damage.
• Vitamin K: Helps with blood clotting.

Minerals

• Calcium: Builds and maintains strong bones and teeth.
• Chloride: Helps regulate the amount of water in the body.
• Magnesium: Helps regulate the heartbeat and relaxes muscles.
• Phosphorus: Builds and maintains strong bones and teeth.
• Potassium: Helps regulate the electrical activity of the cells.
• Sodium: Helps regulate the amount of water in the body.
• Sulphur: Helps form connective tissue, proteins, and some hormones.
• Iron: Forms haemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood.
• Iodine: Helps produce thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism.
• Manganese: Helps with many enzyme reactions.
• Copper: Helps with the formation of red blood cells and the absorption of iron.
• Fluoride: Helps to strengthen teeth and prevent cavities.
• Molybdenum: Helps with the metabolism of sulphur-containing amino acids.
• Selenium: Helps protect cells from damage and supports the immune system.
• Zinc: Helps with the formation of DNA and proteins, wound healing, the immune system, and steroid hormone synthesis.