B vitamins are found in a lot of foods, and you hear about them a lot, but what do they really do?
There are a few different kinds of B vitamins, but overall they are all used to help metabolize carbohydrates into sugar. In other words, help your body make energy from the food that you eat.
There are 11 different kinds of B vitamins known as the vitamin B complex. B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6, B7 (biotin), B12, choline, inositol and folic acid make up the B complex.
B vitamins can be found in a lot of different things that we eat. For example, brown rice, salmon, spinach, and black beans.
They are essential vitamins for your body. It is hard to have too much of these specific kind of vitamins because your body uses them on a regular basis.
As you get older, your ability to absorb vitamin B12 is not as strong and a vitamin supplement or drink is recommended. A deficiency in folic acid or B12 can cause diseases such as anemia.
Anemia is when your blood cannot transport oxygen to the rest of your body; the most common cause is a lack of iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12. People who are vegetarian or vegan are at a high risk because B12 is mainly found in animal protein.
B vitamins are also used to help your mood, high stress, anxiety or depression, and even help improve PMS symptoms. Multivitamins normally have all of these B vitamins but the only way to be sure you are getting these vitamins in your diet.
B vitamins are also good for your overall health, and the best way to get them is through the food that you eat. Eating a well balanced diet will ensure you are getting all of the nutrients that you need.
References:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/vitamin-supplements/vitamin-b3.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/anemia.html
http://www.wholeliving.com/134086/benefits-b-vitamins
