Vitamins and Minerals January 28, 2013 Vitamins and minerals are
sometimes called micronutrients. Our bodies need them, in small
amounts, to support the chemical reactions our cells need to
live. We get them from food or supplements because our bodies
don't manufacture them. Different nutrients affect digestion,
the nervous system, thinking, and other body processes.
Micronutrients can be found in many foods. Healthy people might
be able to get enough vitamins and minerals from their food.
People with HIV or another illness need more micronutrients to
help repair and heal cells. Also, many medications can create
shortages of different nutrients. Some molecules in the body are
in a form called oxidized. These molecules are also called free
radicals. They react very easily with other molecules, and can
damage cells. High levels of free radicals seem to cause a lot
of the damage associated with aging. Free radicals are produced
as part of normal body chemistry. Antioxidants are molecules
that can stop free radic