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Difference between Vitamins and Minerals

Difference between Vitamins and Minerals - HealthCodes DNA

 

 You’ve probably already heard that getting enough vitamins and minerals is important for your health. It’s possible that you even saw the alphabet soup stated on the supplement bottle you bought. However, what exactly is the distinction between minerals and vitamins?

Vitamins are essential nutrients for maintaining proper bodily function. There are 13 important vitamins, and they may either be fat-soluble or water-soluble depending on their chemical structure. Vitamins may be obtained via the consumption of a diverse range of foods as well as nutritional supplements. Any vitamin, whether consumed in excess or in deficiency, may be harmful to one’s health.

Minerals are essential to the proper functioning of your body, much like vitamins. There are just 13 necessary vitamins, however, there are hundreds of minerals that have to discover. Certain minerals are essential to the health and functionality of your body, even though it does not need all of them individually. It all depends on the mineral you’re looking for and how much you need. Minerals may be present in a wide range of foods, and like vitamins, an excess of them or a deficiency in them can lead to adverse health effects.

Vitamins

Vitamins are a class of organic compounds that are necessary for maintaining regular cellular function, growth, and development. All vitamins are essential for the body in their own unique ways. It’s possible to develop a deficiency in a specific vitamin if you don’t receive enough of it in your diet. A vitamin shortage may lead to a variety of health issues, including an increased likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. Consuming the appropriate quantity of vitamins may help strengthen your immune system and keep your body functioning at its best.

There are 13 necessary Vitamins:

1) Vitamin A (Retinal)

2) Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

3) Vitamin D 

4) Vitamin E (Tocopherol)

5) Vitamin K

6) Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

7) Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

8) Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

9) Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)

10) Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

11) Vitamin B7 (Biotin)

12) Vitamin B9 (Folate)

13) Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) 

Types of Vitamins

There are two different types of vitamins: those that are fat-soluble and those that are water-soluble. The fatty tissues of the body are where the fat-soluble vitamins are kept. The vitamins A, D, E, and K are known together as fat-soluble vitamins. When taken with a little amount of dietary fat, these vitamins can absorb into the body more efficiently. Water-soluble vitamins are immediate use by the body. Because the body cannot store them, they must take is consistent. Urine is responsible for the elimination of any unused water-soluble vitamins. Water-soluble vitamins include vitamin C and B-vitamins. One notable exception is vitamin B12, which may survive in the body for a very long time when stored in the liver.

The Distinction between Water-Soluble and Fat-Soluble Compounds

Vitamins: Their Roles and Where They Come From

There is a distinct function that performs by each of the body’s 13 vitamins. To keep one’s health in tip-top shape, it is essential to consume an adequate amount of each vitamin.

Vitamin A
  • Vitamin A, also known as retinol, plays an important role in the development and upkeep of healthy teeth, bones, soft tissue, mucous membranes, and skin. Meats such as liver, cattle, and fish are all good sources of vitamin A. Other foods that include vitamin A include egg yolks, dark-colored fruit, dark leafy vegetables, fortified milk, dairy products (cheese, yogurt, butter, and cream), and fortified milk.
Vitamin C
  • Ascorbic acid, which is also known as vitamin C, is an antioxidant that helps maintain healthy gums and teeth. It facilitates the body’s absorption of iron and aids in the maintenance of healthy tissue. As a result of its role in the healing process, this vitamin is associated enhancement of one’s immune system. Citrus fruits and other vegetables, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, spinach, and tomatoes, are all good sources of vitamin C. Citrus fruits are particularly rich in vitamin C.
Vitamin D
  • Because the body creates vitamin D in response to exposure to sunlight, it is sometimes referred to as the “sunshine vitamin.” The body can manufacture all the vitamin D it needs to operate with as little as 10 to 15 minutes of exposure to the sun a few times each week, but this varies depending on location and the pigmentation of the skin. Vitamin D, which is a fat-soluble vitamin, facilitates the body’s absorption of calcium, which is an essential element for the formation and upkeep of teeth and bones that are healthy. Additionally, vitamin D assists in keeping the blood’s calcium and phosphorus concentrations at healthy ranges. Fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, herring, and orange rough, as well as fish liver oils, fortified cereals, and fortified milk and dairy products are all good sources of vitamin D. (cheese, yogurt, butter, and cream). It is difficult to receive enough vitamin D from food alone; therefore, people who live in locations where there is little sunshine run the risk of not producing enough of their own vitamin D. When this happens, taking supplements may be helpful.
Vitamin E
  • Tocopherol, often known as vitamin E, is an antioxidant that not only assists the body in producing red blood cells but also makes it possible for the body to make use of vitamin K. Avocados, dark green vegetables (spinach, broccoli, asparagus, and turnip greens), oils (safflower, maize, and sunflower), papayas, mangoes, nuts and seeds, wheat germ, and wheat germ oil are some of the foods that contain vitamin E.
Vitamin K
  • The coagulation of blood is impossible without vitamin K, which may also be beneficial to bone health. Cabbage, cauliflower, cereals, dark green vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and asparagus), dark leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, collards, and turnip greens), and meat products like fish, liver, beef, and eggs are all good sources of vitamin K. Other foods that contain vitamin K include turnip greens, turnip greens, and turnip cabbage.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
  • Thiamine, which is a form of vitamin B1. It is a cofactor in the process by which cells turn carbohydrates into energy. In addition to supporting heart function, this vitamin also promotes healthy nerve cells. There is thiamine in dry milk, eggs, nuts and seeds, organ meats, legumes, peas, and whole grains. Enriched bread, lean meats, and legumes also contain thiamine.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
  • Riboflavin, often known as vitamin B2, collaborates with the other B vitamins. It is essential for the development of the organism as well as the creation of red blood cells. Asparagus, broccoli, eggs, kidneys, liver, lean meats, and low-fat milk are some of the foods that contain riboflavin. Spinach also contains riboflavin.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
  • Niacin, which is a kind of vitamin B3, contributes to the maintenance of healthy neurons and skin. It also has the potential to assist in lowering cholesterol. Niacin in foods such as avocado, eggs, salmon, lean meats, legumes, nuts, potatoes, poultry, and enhanced bread and cereals. It obtains for bread and cereals.
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
  • Pantothenic acid, often known as vitamin B5, is an important nutrient for the process of metabolizing food. Additionally, it is beneficial to the generation of hormones. Avocados, broccoli, eggs, kale, legumes and lentils, milk, mushrooms, organ meats, potatoes, poultry, and cereals made from whole grains are some of the foods that contain pantothenic acid.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
  • The production of red blood cells and proper brain function assist by vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). When you consume more protein, your body has a greater need for this vitamin since proteins involve a greater number of the chemical events that take place in the body. The avocado, the banana, the bean, the meat, the nuts, the fowl, and the whole grains all contain pyronaridine.
Vitamin B7 (Biotin)
  • In addition to promoting healthy hair, skin, and nails, biotin, which is a form of vitamin B7, is necessary for the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins. Additionally, it is helpful in the manufacturing of hormones. Biotin may be present in a variety of foods, including chocolate, cereal, egg yolks, legumes, milk, almonds, pork, organ meats, and yeast.
Vitamin B9 (Folate)
  • Folate, commonly known as vitamin B9, collaborates with vitamin B12 in the synthesis of red blood cells. It involves in the process of making DNA. Folate is a nutrient that is essential for pregnant women to have enough of since a lack of it may lead to birth abnormalities. Folate can be found naturally in a variety of foods, including asparagus, beets, broccoli, dried beans, leafy green vegetables, lentils, oranges, peanut butter, and wheat germ. Even though many foods are now fortified with folic acid (a form of folate), folate can still be found naturally in these foods.
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
  • The synthesis of red blood cells, as well as the metabolism and the neurological system, are all aided by vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin. Eggs, meat, milk, chicken, and shellfish are some of the animal foods that contain cobalamin. Other sources include organ meats.

 

Allowances Recommended for a Healthy Diet

The Recommended Dietary Allowance, or RDA, for each vitamin, specifies the quantity of that vitamin that the average person ought to consume daily. Although the Recommend Dietary Allowance (RDA) uses a benchmark, the actual amount of each vitamin that is optimal for your body is determined by several variables, including your age, gender, and overall state of health. In the case of some vitamins, taking excessive amounts might be harmful to your health. This is particularly the case with fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are stored in fat cells and have the potential to accumulate in the body. To determine the ideal amount of vitamins to take based on your unique body type, discuss your vitamin requirements with your primary care physician or take a micro nutrient DNA test to learn what vitamin RDAs work best for you.

Minerals

Minerals are naturally occurring minerals that are necessary for the development of bones, the synthesis of hormones, the control of one’s heartbeat, as well as the maintenance of healthy muscles and proper brain function.
These may be broken down into two distinct categories: macrominerals and trace minerals. The quantity of macro minerals required is much higher:

  1. Calcium
  2. Phosphorus
  3. Magnesium
  4. Sodium
  5. Potassium
  6. Chloride
  7. Sulfur

Small levels of trace minerals are required for human health.

  1. Iron
  2. Manganese
  3. Copper
  4. Iodine
  5. Zinc
  6. Cobalt
  7. Fluoride
  8. Selenium

Conclusion

Eating a broad range of meals is the greatest method to receive the vitamins and minerals your body requires. Vitamins and minerals serve several essential roles in the body and may be found in a wide range of foods, so it is important to pay attention to them when optimizing your health. 

Knowing the best vitamins and minerals for our unique body type doesn’t have to be difficult. A noninvasive at-home DNA nutrition test will provide you with a basis of knowledge so you can make informed choices about your body’s vitamin and mineral needs.

References

Difference Between Vitamins and Minerals. (n.d.). Retrieved from Vedantu: https://www.vedantu.com/biology/difference-between-vitamins-and-minerals

Garg, P. (Year 1st (2018 Edition)). Vitamins And Minerals. In P. Garg, Health Sanitary Inspector (p. 280). New Delhi: Neelkanth Publishers Pvt. Ltd.

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We are always working to enhance our Services with new products, applications and features that may result in the collection of new and different types of information. We will update our privacy statement, as needed.

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HealthCodes DNA will use and share your personal information with third-parties only in the ways that are described in this privacy statement.

  1. Using information to provide, analyze and improve our Services

We use the information described above in Section 3 to operate, provide, analyze and improve our Services. These activities may include, among other things, using your information in a manner consistent with other commitments in this privacy statement, to:

  1. open your account, enable purchases and process payments, communicate with you, and implement your requests (e.g., referrals);
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  • perform research & development activities, which may include, for example, conducting data analysis and research in order to develop new or improve existing products and services, and performing quality control activities.

You may be able to opt-in, opt-out or otherwise adjust your preferences of having your information used for certain of these activities. Please see below to learn more.

We use mobile analytics software to allow us to better understand the functionality of our Mobile Software on your phone. This software may record information such as how often you use the application, the events that occur within the application, aggregated usage, performance data, and where the application was downloaded from. We do not link the information we store within the analytics software to any personally identifiable information you submit within the mobile application.

  1. Using information with your consent

You have the choice to participate in HealthCodes DNA Research by providing your consent. “HealthCodes DNA Research” refers to research aimed at publication in peer-reviewed journals and other research funded by the federal government (such as the National Institutes of Health – NIH) conducted by HealthCodes DNA. HealthCodes DNA Research may be sponsored by, conducted on behalf of, or in collaboration with third-parties, such as non-profit foundations, academic institutions or pharmaceutical companies.  HealthCodes DNA Research may study a specific group or population, identify potential areas or targets for therapeutics development, conduct or support the development of drugs, diagnostics or devices to diagnose, predict or treat medical or other health conditions, work with public, private and/or non-profit entities on genetic research initiatives, or otherwise create, commercialize, and apply this new knowledge to improve health care. HealthCodes DNA Research uses your aggregate or individual-level Genetic Information and Self-Reported Information as specified in the Terms of Service.

Consent process for research. Your Genetic Information and Self-Reported Information may be used for HealthCodes DNA Research only if you have consented to this use by completing a Research Initiatives Consent Document. If you have completed a Research Initiatives Consent Document:

  1. Your aggregated, de-identified Genetic Information may be used for either philanthropic or commercial research purposes as set forth more fully the Research Initiatives Consent Document.
  2. When your Genetic Information and Self-Reported Informationis being used for research purposes, it will not be linked to your Registration Information.
  1. Withdrawing your Consent.You may withdraw your consent to participate in HealthCodes DNA Research Initiatives at any time by emailing us at support@healthcodesdna.com. HealthCodes DNA will not include your Genetic Information or Self-Reported Information in new research occurring after 30 days from the receipt of your request. Any research involving your data that has already been performed or published prior to our receipt of your request will not be reversed, undone, or withdrawn. If you withdraw your consent for research your Genetic Information and Self-Reported Information may still be used by us and shared with our third-party service providers to provide and improve our Services (as described in Section 4.a), and shared as Aggregate Information that does not identify you as an individual (as described in Section 4.d).
  2. What happens if you do NOT consent to HealthCodes DNA Research?If you do not complete a Research Initiatives Consent Document or any additional consent agreement with HealthCodes DNA, your information will not be used for HealthCodes DNA Research Initiatives and you will not be able to use HealthCodes DNA Services.
  1. Recruiting for external research

Academic institutions, healthcare organizations, and other groups are always conducting interesting new research projects. We want to make you aware of these opportunities. While we do not share individual-level Genetic Information or Self-Reported Information with third-parties without your consent, from time to time we may inform you of third-party research opportunities for which you may be eligible. For example, if a university tells us about a new cancer research project, we may send an email to HealthCodes DNA members who potentially fit the relevant eligibility criteria based on their Self-Reported Information to make them aware of the research project and provide a link to participate with the research organization conducting the study.

  1. Information we share with third-parties
  • . General service providers.We share the information described above in Section 3 with our service providers, as necessary to provide their services to us. Service providers are third-parties (other companies or individuals) that help us to provide, analyze and improve our Services. For example, we work with third-party laboratories and contractors to process and analyze your saliva sample for purposes of generating your Genetic Information

NOTE: Our service providers act on HealthCodes DNA’s behalf. While we implement procedures and contractual terms to protect the confidentiality and security of your information, we cannot guarantee the confidentiality and security of your information due to the inherent risks associated with storing and transmitting data electronically.

When you purchase a testing kit and report from HealthCodes DNA, you are instructed to send a saliva sample to our third-party laboratory with a unique barcode label. The unique barcode identifies you to us but not to the laboratory. We may also be required to provide to the laboratory, your sex and date of birth or age pursuant to clinical laboratory requirements such as the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). No other Registration Information such as your name, address, email, phone number or other contact information) is required or provided to the laboratory. The receiving personnel at the laboratory will remove and discard your “sender information” from the packaging (e.g., name, address) before testing personnel receive the samples for processing. Receiving personnel do not perform testing, and testing personnel handle saliva samples that are labeled only with the unique barcode. DNA and saliva samples are destroyed after the laboratory completes its work, provided that laboratory legal and regulatory requirements no longer require the actual samples to be maintained. A de-identified copy of genotyping data may be kept in accordance with CLIA. The laboratory securely sends the resulting Genetic Information to our third party reporting company along with your unique barcode. Genetic Information is stored securely on our servers; the laboratory also stores your Genetic Information, but again, labeled only with the barcode.

  • “Targeted advertising” service providers.We may permit third-party advertising networks and providers to collect Web Behavior Information on our Service to help us to deliver targeted online advertisements (“ads”) to you. They use cookies and similar technologies (such as JavaScript, beacons, device identifiers, location data, and clear gifs) to compile information about your browser’s or device’s visits and usage patterns on our Services and on other websites over time, which helps to better personalize ads to match your interests, and to measure the effectiveness of ad campaigns.

If you wish to not have this information used for the purpose of serving you targeted ads, you may be able to opt-out of many advertising networks by visiting here and here (if you are located in Canada, click here; or if you are located in the European Union click here). Please note this does not mean that you have opted-out of being served advertising. You will continue to receive generic ads.

  • Aggregate information.We may share aggregate information with third-parties, which is any information that has been stripped of your Registration (e.g., your name and contact information) and aggregated with information of others so that you cannot reasonably be identified as an individual (“Aggregate Information”). This Aggregate Information is different from “individual-level” information. Individual-level Genetic Information or Self-Reported Information of data about a single individual’s genotypes, diseases or other traits/characteristics information. For example, Aggregate Information may include a statement that “30% of our female users share a particular genetic trait,” without providing any data or testing results specific to any individual user. We may provide such Aggregate Information in commercial arrangements with our business partners. In contrast, individual-level Genetic Information could reveal whether a specific user has a particular genetic trait, or all of the Genetic Information about that user. HealthCodes DNA will ask for your consent to share individual-level Genetic Information or Self-Reported Information with any third-party, other than our service providers as necessary for us to provide the Services to you.
  • Information we share with commonly owned entities.We may share some or all of your information with other companies under common ownership or control of HealthCodes DNA, which may include our subsidiaries, our corporate parent, or any other subsidiaries owned by our corporate parent in order to provide you better service and improve user experience. We may provide additional notice and ask for your consent if we wish to share your information with our commonly owned entities in a materially different way than discussed in this Privacy Statement.
  1. Disclosures required by law

Under certain circumstances your information may be subject to disclosure pursuant to judicial or other government subpoenas, warrants, or orders, or in coordination with regulatory authorities, we may be required to disclose personal data in response to lawful requests by public authorities, including to meet national security or law enforcement requirements. HealthCodes DNA will preserve and disclose any and all information to law enforcement agencies or others if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such preservation or disclosure is reasonably necessary to: (a) comply with legal or regulatory process (such as a judicial proceeding, court order, or government inquiry) or obligations that HealthCodes DNA may owe pursuant to ethical and other professional rules, laws, and regulations; (b) enforce the HealthCodes DNA Terms of Service and other policies; (c) respond to claims that any content violates the rights of third-parties; or (d) protect the rights, property, or personal safety of HealthCodes DNA, its employees, its users, its clients, and the public.

NOTE: If you are participating in HealthCodes DNA Research, HealthCodes DNA will withhold disclosure of your personal information involved in such research in response to judicial or other government subpoenas, warrants or orders in accordance with any applicable Certificate of Confidentiality that HealthCodes DNA and/or any of its third party providers has obtained from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). There are limits to what the Certificate of Confidentiality covers so please visit the Certificates of Confidentiality Kiosk ( https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/coc/index.htm).

  1. Your choices
  2. Access to your account

If your Registration Information changes, you may access, correct or update most of it from your Account page. You may also modify and delete certain of your information. Please note that you may not be able to delete User Content that has been shared with others through the Service and that you may not be able to delete information that has been shared with third-parties, though we can work with you to prohibit your data from being shared with third-parties in the future. We will respond to your request to access within 30 days.

  1. Marketing communications

By registering for an account, you are agreeing that we may send you promotional emails about our Services. You can opt-out of such emails by clicking the “unsubscribe” button at the bottom of any of our or third-party promotional email communications. Please note that you may not opt-out of receiving non-promotional messages regarding your account, such as technical notices, purchase confirmations, or Service-related emails.

  1. Information you choose to share with others

You may decide to disclose your personal information to friends and/or family members, doctors or other health care professionals, and/or other individuals outside of our Services, including through third-party services such as social networks and third-party apps that connect to our website and mobile apps through our application programming interface (“API”). These third-parties may use your personal information differently than we do under this Privacy Statement. Please make such choices carefully and review the privacy policies of all other third-parties involved in the transaction. For example, if you have enabled a HealthCodes DNA sharing feature with another person who downloads a third-party app that uses our API, your information may also be obtained by that third-party app developer and, potentially, by other users of that third-party app.

In general, personal information, once shared or disclosed, can be difficult to contain or retrieve. HealthCodes DNA will have no responsibility or liability for any consequences that may result because you have released or shared personal information with others.

  1. Account closure

If you no longer wish to participate in our Services or no longer wish to have your personal information be used, you may close your account by sending a request to support@healthcodesdna.com. When closing an account, we remove all Genetic Information within your account (or profile) within thirty (30) days of our receipt of your request. As stated in any applicable Consent Document, however, Genetic Information and/or Self-Reported Information that you have previously provided and for which you have given consent to use in HealthCodes DNA Research cannot be removed from ongoing or completed studies that use the information. Our contracted genotyping laboratory may also retain your Genetic Information as required by local law and we may retain backup copies for a limited period of time pursuant to our data protection policies. In addition, we retain limited Registration Information related to your order history (e.g., name, contact, and transaction data) as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services, as well as for accounting, audit and compliance purposes.

  1. Important Information
  2. Security measures

HealthCodes DNA takes seriously the trust you place in us. To prevent unauthorized access or disclosure, to maintain data accuracy, and to ensure the appropriate use of information, HealthCodes DNA uses a range of physical, technical, and administrative measures to safeguard your Personal Information. In particular, all connections to and from our website and mobile application are encrypted using Extended Validation Secure Socket Layer (EV SSL) technology.

Please recognize that protecting your Personal Information is also your responsibility. We ask you to be responsible for safeguarding your password, secret questions and answers, and other authentication information you use to access our Services. You should not disclose your authentication information to any third-party and should immediately notify HealthCodes DNA of any unauthorized use of your password. HealthCodes DNA cannot secure Personal Information that you release on your own or that you request us to release.

Your information collected through the Service may be stored and processed in the United States or any other country in which HealthCodes DNA or its subsidiaries, affiliates or service providers maintain facilities and, therefore, your information may be subject to the laws of those other jurisdictions which may be different from the laws of your country of residence.

  1. Business transactions

In the event that HealthCodes DNA goes through a business transition such as a merger, acquisition by another company, or sale of all or a portion of its assets, your information will likely be among the assets transferred. In such a case, your information would remain subject to the promises made in any pre-existing Privacy Statement.

  1. Linked websites

HealthCodes DNA provides links to third-party websites operated by organizations not affiliated with HealthCodes DNA. HealthCodes DNA does not disclose your information to organizations operating such linked third-party websites. HealthCodes DNA does not review or endorse, and is not responsible for, the privacy practices of these organizations. We encourage you to read the privacy statements of each and every website that you visit. This Privacy Statement applies solely to information collected by HealthCodes DNA.

  1. Children’s privacy

HealthCodes DNA is committed to protecting the privacy of children as well as adults. Neither HealthCodes DNA nor any of its Services are designed for, intended to attract, or directed toward children under the age of 18. A parent or guardian, however, may collect a saliva sample from, create an account for, and provide information related to, his or her child. The parent or guardian assumes full responsibility for ensuring that the information that he/she provides to HealthCodes DNA about his or her child is kept secure and that the information submitted is accurate.

  1. Changes to this Privacy Statement

Whenever this Privacy Statement is changed in a material way, a notice will be posted as part of this Privacy Statement and on our customers’ account login pages for 30 days. After 30 days the changes will become effective. In addition, all customers will receive an email with notification of the changes prior to the change becoming effective.

  1. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Statement, please email HealthCodes DNA at info@HealthCodesDNA.com.