Essential vitamins and minerals are those that the body needs on a daily basis because it can’t produce it (or enough of it) by itself. The 13 essential vitamins are vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and the eight B vitamins. Some of the essential minerals include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine, sulfur, cobalt, copper, fluoride, manganese, and selenium.