In the land of what I do best, I sort all that hype and gobbly gook and help my clients figure out what might be a fit for them. I like everyone to feel that they actually know why this stuff is going into their body.
Today we are going to take a look inside one of my favorite supplements: B Complex! Maybe the reason I love it so much is for its many uses, and its nickname of the HAPPY vitamin!
So without further adieu, here are some things to know about B Vitamins:
-All B's must be taken together in a Complex form...This includes Thiamin, Riboflavin, B6, B12, Niacin, Folic Acid, Biotin, and Pantothenic Acid. (all B complex vitamins are not created equal, as a matter of fact most regularly skimp on folic acid and the biotin.)
-B Vitamins are water soluble.(this means you burn through them and they are not stored in the body)
-The more processed "snick snacky" stuff you eat the more B Vitamins you need.
-B Vitamins are depleted by these foods : coffee, alcohol, refined sugar and white flour.(Now you can really see the need for B vitamins!)
-They are destroyed by sleeping pills, sulfa drugs, estrogen: birth control and hormone replacement therapy
-B Vitamins convert food to energy.(One of the coolest things)
-Infection and stress increase the need for B's.(the stress part especially)
-B Vitamins are necessary for normal function by the nervous system.
-B Vitamins help produce protective antibodies.
-B Vitamins assist with the manufacturing of healthy blood cells.
-B Vitamins redistribute fat and convert fat to energy.
-B Vitamins are needed by the body to reduce homocysteine levels.
-B Vitamins reduce the risk of heart disease.
-B Vitamins prevent birth defects, cervical dysplacia, and colon cancer.
-B Vitamins promote healthy hair and skin.
-B Vitamins support normal growth in children.
-If you think of the nerves, the brain, your hormones and your adrenals, all of these are areas in the body that benefit the most from B Vitamins.
That is quite the list! Don't you agree? I want to thank nutritionist Barb Lagoni for that information, which is so helpful.
If you're looking for a quality B Complex, my recommendation is Shaklee's B Complex. You have heard me rave about Shaklee's incredible standards, that are so important in an industry that is minimally regulated. You can find Shaklee's B Complex at www.caranitz.myshaklee.com by clicking the shop button, and then the healthy nutrition button. B complex is also in my absolute favorite supplement pack, Vitalizer, which has over 80nutrients your body needs daily.
Here is a little tip to know if you need more B's - watch the color of your urine as your gauge (I know - I'm talking about the color of your pee!)
If you take a B Complex in the morning and your urine is pale by lunch time you are burning through your B. This means you need to take more and take it though out the day.
Taking B Vitamins definitely can contribute to a shift in attitude!
Take your B's and BE HAPPY.
I have no idea what 'homocysteine levels' are. Could you put that in laymans terms?
ReplyDeleteGreat question, Jennifer! Homocysteine is an amino acid produced in the body, often in response to eating meat. When these levels get too high they can do damage to your arteries, raise your risk for heart attacks, stroke, blood clots and Alzheimer's. So, that is why B complex is so important to keep these levels down.
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