The benefits of B vitamins may not be the hottest topic on the web, but it surely is an important one for your physical and mental health. The B vitamins could be a life-saver, too.
B Vitamins
Many B vitamins can’t be stored in your body, so consuming them daily is critical. Once you realize how important this vitamin complex really is, then you can make sure that you are getting what you need, daily.
How Do You Know If You Are B Deficient?
More than likely, you are deficient in one or more of the B vitamins if you are:
- on a strict weight loss diet;
- eat a lot of processed food;
- frequently take antibiotics;
- use seizure disorder drugs;
- drink a substantial amount of alcohol;
- fast.
B Benefits
The B-Complex vitamins supply your body nutrients for the following functions:
- blood;
- immune system;
- transform food into usable energy;
- nervous system;
- heart health.
Foods With B Vitamins
The B vitamins are found in many different foods, and are naturally “grouped together” to assist one another with their different health functions. B vitamins are found in both meat and vegetarian diets:
- organ meats, such as liver and kidney;
- muscle meat, such as beef steak;
- whole grains;
- legumes, such as beans and peas;
- leafy green vegetables.
Cooking your food can destroy the potency of the B vitamins found in food, so it is always good to remember to eat at least 75% of all food raw or slightly cooked, when possible. I also recommend supplementing with a quality B-Complex vitamin four to five days a week.
Benefits of B Vitamins
The B vitamins have been shown in many studies to:
- protect your heart;
- serve as an antioxidant;
- protect against cancer;
- improve mood by reducing stress.
One thing to remember about the benefits of eating a whole foods diet rich in vitamin B is that it does no harm under normal circumstances. Sounds good to me!
