What are vitamins? Vitamins are organic molecules that are essential to an organism in small quantities for proper metabolic function. There are two types of vitamins: fat-soluble and water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins are dissolved in fats, while water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. What are minerals? Minerals are a chemical element. They are naturally occurring inorganic compounds found in soil and water. Why do we need them? Vitamins and minerals are essential