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Benefits of Vitamin B

Detailed Health Benefits of Vitamin B

There are many benefits of Vitamin B but the first thing you should know is that there is really no such thing as Vitamin B. There are instead a group of B vitamins which include:

Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Vitamin B3 (niacin or nicotinamide)
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
Vitamin B7 (biotin)
Vitamin B9 (folic acid)
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)

This list continues up to 22 and also includes the numbers missing in the above list (like B4) and various letter B Vitamins like Bx and Bt. These were later shown to not be actual vitamins or are essential vitamins to organisms other than humans and so they have been left out of this list.

The benefits of B vitamins are increased rate of metabolism, skin and muscle health, improved immune system, increase in red blood cells, and even a reduction in the risk of pancreatic cancer. Studies have shown that this reduction only occurs when consumed in a natural form not vitamin tablets or other supplements which include B vitamins.

One of the best sources of Vitamin B is meat with other good vegetarian sources being potatoes, beans, yeasts, bananas, and molasses. Any processing of foods containing B vitamins will significantly lower the content of those same vitamins. It should be noted that Vitamin B12 is not found in plants and so vegetarians and vegans should take a supplement that includes it. Unfortunately this will mean missing out on the reduction in pancreatic cancer risk.

The B Vitamins are quickly absorbed and consumed by our bodies meaning continual and frequent intake is necessary to maintain proper levels. However, the good news is that most westerners get enough B Vitamins from natural food sources that supplementation is unnecessary.