Science Common Sense

544 - How do vitamins and minerals affect our health?

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients that our bodies need to stay healthy. Here's what they do:

1. Help our bodies grow: They help build strong bones, muscles, and skin.
2. Give us energy: They help our bodies use food to create energy.
3. Keep us from getting sick: They help our immune systems fight off germs and infections.
4. Help our brains work: They help our brains think and learn properly.

Some examples of vitamins and minerals and what they do:

• Vitamin D helps our bones grow strong.
• Iron helps our blood carry oxygen to all parts of our bodies.
• Calcium helps build strong teeth and bones.
• Vitamin C helps fight off colds and flu.

If we don't get enough vitamins and minerals, we might feel tired, weak, or even get sick. So, eating a balanced diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins helps our bodies get all the nutrients we need.