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What are vitamins and minerals?
Vitamins and minerals are nutrients required in very small amounts
for essential body processes. These nutrients act with proteins, known as
enzymes, to regulate metabolic processes ranging from the breakdown of sugar and
fat for energy to the synthesis of proteins to make the building blocks of
various cellular structures.
How much is enough?
A well-balanced diet should provide most people with enough essential
nutrients. A well-balanced diet includes eating foods from the four major food
groups: dairy products, meat and nuts, cereals and grains, and fruits and
vegetables.
The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine has developed
Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) to make certain that the food supply is
adequate for the general population. DRIs represent the intake level of
essential nutrients that are judged to be adequate to meet the known nutrient
needs of practically all healthy people.
DRIs for protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals have been established
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