Vitamins are essential, organic compounds that the body is either unable to produce or produces in amounts that are inadequate. A nutrient can only be referred to as a vitamin if a deficiency causes a specific disease. Minerals are elements found in the earth and in the sea, where they are absorbed by plants and continues up through the food chain. When we eat plants, fish and animals we get minerals in the form of various elemental salts. The body is not able to absorb pure minerals very well.