What term refers to organic substances that are essential for normal growth and activity?

The correct answer is vitamins and minerals because these organic substances play crucial roles in the body's metabolic processes and are vital for maintaining good health. Vitamins are organic compounds that the body needs in small amounts for various functions, including immune function, energy production, and cellular repair. Minerals, while inorganic, are essential for processes such as bone formation, muscle function, and maintaining fluid balance.

Both vitamins and minerals are necessary for normal growth and activity, making them indispensable to overall health. In contrast, hormones are signaling molecules that regulate body functions but are not classified as essential substances for growth. Carbohydrates provide energy but do not directly contribute to growth in the same way that vitamins and minerals do. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and are necessary for growth and repair, but they do not encompass the wide range of necessary nutrients reflected in the term vitamins and minerals. Therefore, these distinctions clarify why the correct choice centers on vitamins and minerals.