The Many Benefits of the B-Complex Vitamins

You know that vitamins and minerals are essential to your overall health and well-being, but which vitamins and how much of each should you be getting? And can you have too much of a good thing? For instance . . . are you “B-eing” vigilant about getting enough of the B-Complex vitamins? Perhaps you don’t even know what they are! Where can you find B-Complex vitamins, and what can they do for your overall health? Let’s take a look . . .

You know that vitamins and minerals are essential to your overall health and well-being, but which vitamins and how much of each should you be getting? And can you have too much of a good thing?

For instance . . . are you “B-eing” vigilant about getting enough of the B-Complex vitamins? Perhaps you don’t even know what they are! Where can you find B-Complex vitamins, and what can they do for your overall health? Let’s take a look . . .

B-Complex Basics
Vitamin B-complex is not one single vitamin, but a network of eight water-soluble vitamins that perform separate, essential functions:

Thiamine (Vitamin B1): Thiamine assists the cells with the conversion of carbohydrates into energy and ensures that the muscles and nervous systems are all functioning properly. Deficiencies can result in dementia, cataracts, and congestive heart failure.

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): An important building block of red cell production, riboflavin also helps the body release energy from carbohydrates and helps repair damaged tissues.

Niacin (Vitamin B3): Niacin converts carbohydrates in to sugar and boosts levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol in the blood. It also keeps the hair, skin and eyes healthy.

Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5): Pantothenic acid helps metabolize fats, proteins and carbohydrates and supports the function of the adrenal gland. It also creates energy and helps build neurotransmitters and hemoglobin, among other things.

Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6): In addition to ensuring optimal nerve function, Pyridoxine also enhances biochemical reactions throughout the system.

Biotin (Vitamin B7): Necessary for the production and metabolism of fats, biotin strengthens hair and nails and keeps blood sugar within an ideal range. It may also aid in the replication of DNA.

Folic Acid (Vitamin B9): Also known as folate, folic acid plays a vital role in the prevention of birth defects of the spinal cord and brain, such as spina bifida. It was also recently discovered that getting enough folic acid can prevent pregnant women from delivering prematurely. Women who are planning to become pregnant or are already pregnant should take folic acid supplements to decrease their risk of these dangers.

Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12): Important in cell growth and reproduction, B12 deficiencies can lead to the formation of spinal cord lesions and neurological disorders.

Because B-complex vitamins can’t be stored in the body, they must be ingested on a regular basis. Potatoes, bananas, lentils, chili peppers, liver oil, liver, turkey, tuna, beans and whole grains are all good dietary sources. B-complex is also readily available in multivitamins and can be taken as a separate supplement.

“B-cause” the B-complex vitamins are very important to your overall health, “B-e” sure to get enough of them in your daily diet!