Healthy For Life minerals are easily recognized by your body. Minerals need to be in a very specific bio-available form in order for our bodies to use them. They have to be combined with a protein. Protein (charged particles) is attracted to cells and absorbed through the cell membrane. The protein brings the mineral along with it into the cell. There are 17 main minerals our bodies need and many people do not get eight of them in sufficient quantities Many people ask about vitamins. Vitamins are still in food, but are co-enzymes with minerals. If you are deficient in minerals, then the vitamins in food are often not utilized. When you add the minerals to your diet the vitamins in food can then be absorbed by your body.