How many B vitamins are there anyway? Eight! Are you deficient in any of the B vitamins? Most of us are. Being deficient in any of the eight B vitamins can break down metabolic processes that convert food into cellular energy. In fact, B vitamins are crucial to the key process that maintains energy production for the cell and are crucial to the methylation process that helps the body repair DNA and have optimal production of neurotransmitter chemicals. Since these processes protect health, a break down leaves you vulnerable. The usual culprits – stress and poor diet – can cause these breakdowns, but many people don’t know that medications you take can also deplete B vitamins. In particular, pain medications like acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen cause this vitamin B breakdown.
B vitamins are absorbed in the small intestine. They make their way to the liver, where they are transformed into their active forms. Let’s briefly explore the B vitamins:
Folate: critical to methylation and found in fruits and dark leafy vegetables; nutrients can be easily destroyed during cooking
Thiamine (B1): essential for cellular energy and fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism. While naturally plentiful in whole grains, B1 is destroyed by over-processing of foods.
Riboflavin (B2): important for metabolism and energy production, and a powerful antioxidant. Also helps maintain healthy blood pressure already within a normal range.
Niacin: crucial for oxidation reduction; has a long use in cardiovascular health, because it supports healthy vessel walls.
Vitamin B6: crucial to many enzymatic reactions in the body including fat metabolism, glucose generation, hormone modulation, methylation, and neurotransmitter formation. Important in cardiovascular health and immune function.
Vitamin B12: essential to help the body make proteins and metabolize fats; found in egg yolks, organ meats and seafood.
Biotin: helps the body utilize other B vitamins and also helps the body utilize amino acids; supports healthy blood sugar levels and helps the body balance blood fats.
Pantothenic Acid: helps the body make amino acids and steroid hormones; also helps balance blood fats.
Additionally, choline bitartrate is important; it is not a B vitamin but is often associated with B vitamins. It helps cells build strong membranes and strong signals to other cells. It is also vital for brain development. People with deficiencies of this important nutrient have more DNA damage as well as white blood cell damage.
You can prevent deficiencies in these important vitamins through Methyl B Complex, a comprehensive and balanced B complex supplement that contains the eight essential B vitamins, as well as choline bitartate and inositol, another nutrient important to brain health.
Taking a B-complex vitamin is important because the vitamins are synergistic, meaning they work together. In other words, they are stronger together in their roles in energy production and brain, cardiovascular, and immune health. Very few people get all the essential B vitamins through diet, and you’ll need more if you have high stress levels. These days, who doesn’t, right? Build up your nutrient reserve with Methyl B Complex today.
