The cell is the basic unit of all living matter. The cell wall surrounds a semi-fluid substance called cytoplasm, in which the life activities of the cell take place. At the heart of the cell is the nucleus, a control center carrying the cell's hereditary material. The cells assimilate these nutrients and use them as fuel for energy or as material for the production of body chemicals and tissues. Fats and carbohydrates provide most of the calories the body needs, and are also the primary sources of fuel for the body's heat and energy.
Proteins are responsible for the growth and repair of the body itself.
The Important Role of Vitamins and Minerals Think of the body as a machine in which the moving parts are chemicals. All of the billions of events that occur in the body every second, even during sleep, are chemical reactions changing one chemical to another. The body controls and catalyzes all these reactions with chemicals called enzymes. Still others act like hormones, controlling growth sexuality, metabolism, etc. Most minerals are involved in the activation of enzymes and vitamins, creating a healthy environment in which the body can grow, function and heal itself.