Vitamins are organic food substances found only in living things, that is plants and animals, and are vital in minute quantities for proper growth and maintenance of health. They function with chemicals called enzymes which are responsible for the oxidation process within the body. Vitamins taken in excess will be either excreted in the urine or stored in the body. They are either water-soluble such as B-complex vitamins and vitamin C, and thus must be replenished daily through diet or supplements, or fat-soluble such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, except for Beta-Carotene which is a water-soluble form of vitamin A.

Minerals are nutrients that exist in the body and in food, in organic and inorganic combinations. Approximately seventeen minerals are essential in human nutrition. They are vital to overall mental and physical well-being. Minerals are present in all tissues and internal fluids of living things. They are important in maintaining physiological processes, strengthening skeletal structures, and preserving the vigor of the heart and brain as well as all the muscle and nerve system. Minerals coexist with vitamins and their work is interrelated.