Why are vitamins and minerals important?

Vitamins and minerals are the most-sold and least-understood category in health — so the foundation matters. They aren't fuel (that's calories) and they aren't energy (that's the B-vitamin myth corrected); they're cofactors — the spark plugs that let the body use fuel, build tissue, and run its chemistry. Most people eating varied diets run fine; a short, specific list runs short; and only three are worth a blood test before a bottle. This guided journey covers the model, the ladder, and the list.