How are vitamins and minerals absorbed?

Vitamins and
Minerals are often lumped together when discussing proper
nutrition, with many plans including "a multi-vitamin" (usually including essential
minerals) with no explanation about how this affects eating habits. Vitamins and
minerals are different substances, and they affect the body in different
ways.

Vitamins are organic
compounds that are obtained from diet instead of being synthesized by the body, and
precluding minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids. The only vitamin the body can create
is Vitamin D, which is generated in the skin through absorption of ultraviolet radiation
from the Sun. Vitamins are found in every organic food, and are absorbed in the
digestive system through the stomach and intestinal linings. Some vitamins are
water-soluble -- they dissolve in water, are absorbed into
the bloodstream, and the excess is filtered through the kidneys and excreted in urine --
while others are fat-soluble -- they are absorbed in the
intestines via Lipids, and because they are not filtered, they can store up quickly and
become toxic to the body.

Dietary
Minerals are inorganic chemical elements -- not compounds -- which are
needed to maintain good health. Many of these are found in organic foods: milk contains
calcium, eggs contain sulfur, and spinach contains iron. Dietary minerals tend to be
water-soluble, so they dissolve in water, absorb through the stomach and intestinal
linings, enter the bloodstream, and are filtered through the kidneys. Because they are
inorganic, minerals can cause damage in large quantities; for example, excess calcium
can create kidney stones from particulate buildup. Minerals are generally available in
the correct quantities in normal food, and do not need to be supplemented in healthy
adults.