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Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients characterized by the following: Although our bodies cannot manufacture them, they are needed for good health and vital functions. A proper diet supplies our bodies with most necessary vitamins and minerals. If, however, you live a "normal" life, i.e., you're constantly on the go, there's almost never time for a well-balanced meal. That's where nutrition supplements come in.

Before you introduce nutrition supplements into your diet, you should have a basic understanding of nutrition and proper diet. A great place to learn about these important things is

the consumer-friendly International Food Information Council. It offers a smorgasbord of nutrition guidelines and health advice on food and its preparation. Likewise, the National Cancer Institute's 5 a Day Program virtual classroom teaches you to eat a balanced diet including five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Read scientific studies, take quizzes on vitamin content or follow recipes from the healthy cookbook at this not-just-for-kids nutrition center.

Now you're ready to learn about dietary supplements, and there's no better learning place than Health World Online's Dietary Supplements Center. You'll find outstanding, easy-to-understand literature on specific dietary supplements and guidelines for taking them, including a practical guide on buying supplements.

If you're ready to purchase vitamins and herbal supplements, there are a plethora of stores online. Most of them have a large selection to choose from, and the prices are reasonable. Here are a few stores with a large selection and good prices: HealthWorld's Health Food Store; Vitamin Discount Connection; the Vitamin Factory; Advanced Nutrition; and Mother Nature's General Store. Before you sweep through the virtual shelves at these stops, you may want to check out Yahoo!'s list of Health Food stores.

Remember, supplements alone won't keep you fit, so bookmark those sites on basic nutrition and plan a healthy diet that fits your lifestyle.