Although taking vitamin supplements remains controversial, there is growing evidence of their effectiveness.
Let’s find out why.
Necessities
There are 13 essential vitamins: Vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and B vitamins (thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, biotin, B6, B12, and folate).
If experts were to choose the most important of the 13, it would be thiamine, as it is considered an essential vitamin needed for all tissues in the body to function properly. Fun fact: The first vitamin scientists discovered was thiamine, called B1.
Health conscious people, take note: Vitamin B1 helps turn food into energy. It also protects the heart, brain and nervous system. That’s why people who are under a lot of stress need to supplement with Vitamin B. Food is the best source of nutrition, and if you can get Vitamin B from whole foods, all the better.
Natural sources: chicken, enriched bread, beans, pork, peas, soy, rice, yeast, nuts, enriched pasta, cereals.
A deficiency of B1 can cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, weight loss, short-term memory loss, and confusion.
Possible diseases include beriberi and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
Symptoms include neurological problems, visual impairment, intellectual disability/memory loss, and lack of muscle coordination.
Those with health problems have risk factors such as Crohn’s disease, anorexia, HIV/AIDS, dialysis, loop diuretics, and alcohol abuse.
Fortunately, vitamin B1 deficiency is not common in healthy adults.
Proper Dosage
Talk to your doctor if you need a supplement. Thiamine is used to treat alcoholism and Alzheimer’s disease.
But if you’re eating a balanced diet, your vitamin B levels are likely normal. The only way to know is to get a blood test.
Vitamin B infusions have become popular recently. There is no harm in receiving them once a month.
Taking a daily B-complex vitamin can help prevent vitamin B deficiency. Read the label to see if it contains vitamin B1.
Healthy Drink of the Week:
B Smoothie
Mix together 1 cup fresh pineapple pieces, 2 leaves of kale, and half an avocado, then add a spirulina capsule for an added nutritional boost.
Put it in a blender and drink it.
Beauty Remedy: Lemon Splash
Squeeze a lemon into 2 cups of cold water. If it’s too hot, pour it over your face. Close your eyes to prevent the lemon from irritating them.
Affirmation: “Happiness becomes me.”
Love and light.
