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Get Enough Vitamin B to Be Healthy!

There's strength in numbers they say, and if that's the case, then vitamin B must be very strong indeed. It's not just a single vitamin but a family of vitamins that play essential roles in keeping us physically and mentally healthy. They're also referred to as the vitamin B complex and here we'll take a brief look at how they keep us in the pink of health.

The vitamins that belong to the vitamin B complex are thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9), cobalamin (B12), and biotin. These are water-soluble vitamins and each usually acts in concert with another vitamin or mineral to make sure that the body's numerous systems function smoothly and efficiently. Thiamine helps provide the body with energy and is found in foods that are rich in protein, such as meat, eggs, and nuts. Riboflavin is important for the production of red blood cells and is essential in the body's development. Niacin is vital for the efficient functioning of the nervous system and also in providing the body with energy.

Pantothenic acid helps regulate the metabolism and prevents related disorders such as obesity. In addition, it is instrumental in synthesizing cholesterol and hormones. Pyridoxine also helps the metabolism in that it facilitates the body's absorption of nutrients. In addition, it's good for mental or brain power. Folic acid or folate, on the other hand, is a necessary element for the body's production of proteins as well as hemoglobin. It also contributes significantly to fetal health; that's why pregnant women are advised by their gynecologists to take folic acid supplements, to prevent birth defects like spina bifida. Cobalamin, like pantothenic acid, is needed by the metabolic system, and like riboflavin, is essential in the formation of red blood cells. Finally, biotin is important for the normal functioning of the sweat glands, bone marrow, and nerve tissues. It can also prevent hair loss.

There are many types of food that are rich in one or more members of the family of B vitamins. As mentioned before, foods that have a high protein content contain lots of the nutrient. So do green and leafy vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and a number of fruits. If you find that you may be deficient in vitamin B, consult your physician, who will advise you of the right supplements to take. Remember that this vitamin is essential for health, so make sure that you're getting enough of it.