Parents have been fighting their kids for ages in efforts to feed them dark green leafy vegetables.The human body is a complex which requires dietary supplements in order to develop a robust immune system. The body needs to store energy for proper functioning and enhanced metabolic processes.The food that we consume in our daily diet affects our body and cell growth. Vitamins play a vital role in the normal growth of our body. One of the primary vitamins which should be mandatory in our daily diet through various food sources is vitamin B. Our body consumes vitamin B from various food sources! Other vitamins are also very important for the body but, we essentially need vitamin B for our nerve cells, red blood cell production, energy production, and healthy brain function.Vitamin B intake in order to produce red blood cells is an essential process in our body. Did you know that leafy green vegetables are excellent food sources of vitamin B! Water-soluble vitamins are a rare commodity in our body, but they are present. Vitamin B is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential to form red blood cells. Maintaining good health is important, and vitamin B performs important tasks to support our body. The food that we eat regularly should contain nutrients like fatty acids and amino acids; a diet rich in vitamin B serves that purpose. Various foods that contain vitamin B have a separate function to perform in our body. Let’s discover some more interesting vitamin B facts, including how this vitamin performs and how they are stored in the body.Vitamin B Food SourcesWe know that the foods we consume need to have vitamin B, which can help to maintain healthy body tissues as well as other health benefits when stored in the body. But you must wonder which foods contain B vitamins. To be honest, this gets very confusing sometimes since there is an abundance of various kinds of foods and these foods contain different vitamins and minerals. Let’s focus on the main kinds of foods we need to eat to maintain our health.The body is actually very receptive to green leafy vegetables. However, the more specific type of vegetables that the body needs is dark green leafy vegetables.Examples include broccoli, kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, and swiss chards, which are excellent sources of vitamin B. The next excellent source of B vitamins is whole grains (examples can include foods like millets and brown rice).The food market is flooded with various wholegrain breads which can be very helpful to the body. A very specific type of cereal, known as wheat germ, is also consumed by people around the world, and is an excellent source of vitamin B.Vitamin B can also be found in many fresh fruits, essentially citrus fruits. Other fruits that also contain B vitamins are avocado and banana.Legumes like kidney beans contain rich amounts of B vitamins as well. Dairy products like milk and cheese can also help you get vitamin B!Classifying Vitamin BVitamin B has been assigned important roles, like maintaining the balance in our nervous system. But there are different chemically distinct vitamins and types of vitamins that have various functions to maintain health and produce energy. Did you know what a vitamin B complex is?Vitamin B complex is a combination of all the B vitamins which are used for proper health and energy! There are in total eight B vitamins, and we streamline all of them for separate functions for health purposes:Vitamin B1: Also known as thiamine. When sugar is mixed with vitamin B1, it turns into energy for the body! This vitamin also helps fight depression and diabetes.Vitamin B2: Also known as riboflavin, it’s essential in the breakdown of proteins, fats as well as carbohydrates.Vitamin B3: Also known as nicotinic acid. Nicotinic acid helps in breaking down bad glycerides, which are harmful to our health. Vitamin B3 also helps in improving the levels of blood fat.Vitamin B5: This is known as pantothenic acid. A pantothenic acid is a complex form of propanoic acid. Pantothenic acid essentially helps provide energy to our body; pantothenic acid also helps the body in the usage of fats and proteins.Vitamin B6: Helps reduce depression symptoms. The risk of Alzheimer’s is also reduced by regularly consuming vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 helps reduce nausea during pregnancy and it also reduces the chances of anemia. Vitamin B6 can also help during times of PMS!Vitamin B7: Also known as biotin, helps in reducing hair loss and treating mild depression.Vitamin B9: Also known as folate, it’s produced from folic acid. Folic acid helps in the production of red blood cells which are important to carry oxygen in the body. It also helps in DNA synthesis purposes.Vitamin B12: Also known as cobalamins. Vitamin B12 is also linked to DNA synthesis and helps in maintaining the nervous system. The nervous system’s nerve blood cells are nurtured by vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 also helps in reducing anemia.The Health Benefits Of Vitamin B We have seen that the various B vitamin types are branched in such a way with unique names and functions that we can clearly see their benefits. Vitamin B is obviously essential for our well-being, and it cannot be discounted. The health benefits which this group of vitamins are massive, and their deficiency can lead to several diseases plaguing the body. Let’s outline the health benefits for each of the eight types of B vitamins:Vitamin B1: It reduces the effects of sepsis (which is the body’s reaction to any infections). It also reduces the risk of heart attacks, kidney problems and also improves the memory of the brain.Vitamin B2: Riboflavin helps in the proper development of skin cells. It also helps with migraine issues and also finds use in treating problems like acne.Vitamin B3: Niacin regulates digestion, improves skin conditions, helps treat arthritis, and prevents heart diseases like stroke and heart attacks.Vitamin B5: There is a range of medical conditions that can be treated with B5. These include alcoholism, asthma, ADHD, conjunctivitis, dandruff problems, headaches, low blood pressure, obesity, and many more.Vitamin B6: One of the biggest benefits of consuming B6 has to do with the fact that it helps clear out/prevent clogged arteries and reduces heart disease risks. It helps prevent cancer sometimes as well while also providing nutrition for the health of our eyes.Vitamin B7: Vitamin B7 seems to have curing capabilities. It can cure broken nails while also at the same time providing healthy hair. Biotin provides beautiful skin, and it helps in blood sugar regulation.Vitamin B9: Folic acid reduces the chances of stroke and protects the body against certain cancer cells (like breast cancer, colon cancer). Folic acid also helps break down food and turn the foods into energy.Vitamin B12: This vitamin helps prevent several birth defects while also supporting good bone health. It helps uplift your mood and helps prevent the loss of neurons in the brain. It also gives energy boosts.Symptoms Of Vitamin B Deficiency In The BodyEvery vitamin is important for the body to function properly. These vitamins help the body produce the resources it needs. The deficiency of these vitamins can prove catastrophic in several ways and may also lead to death in certain cases. Let’s discover what happens when these vitamins are in lower quantities than required:Vitamin B1: The deficiency of this vitamin can lead to a disease called beriberi. The symptoms include weakness, a severe loss of appetite, swollen limbs, and shortness of breath.Vitamin B2: Deficiency of this can lead to ariboflavinosis, the symptoms of which include skin diseases, lesions, excess blood, hair loss, problems involving reproductive organs, sore throat, etc.Vitamin B3: A condition called pellagra occurs because of deficiency. The symptoms can include mental fogginess, pain in the abdominal region, and skin sores over the body.Vitamin B5: This deficiency is rare, but it can involve symptoms like lack of sleep, fatigue, vomiting, stomachaches, and depression.Vitamin B6: There are several signs of deficiency, including skin rashes around the body, sore lips, weakened immune system, low energy, and seizures.Vitamin B7: The symptoms can include hair loss, lethargy, and fatigue, hallucinations, loss of appetite, and mild depression.Vitamin B9: Folate deficiency can have several symptoms, like shortness of breath, fatigue, headaches, and having difficulty in maintaining concentration.Vitamin B12: Some common symptoms of the deficiency of vitamin B12 can include fatigue, difficulty in maintaining balance, shortness of breath, memory loss, and weird sensations of touch.Other Interesting Facts About Vitamin BIf you are facing a long-term deficiency of vitamin B12, then it can take anywhere from 6-12 months for normal levels to be attained. Here are some more interesting facts about vitamin B:Vitamin B4 is no longer considered a vitamin, as it doesn’t fit the definition of a vitamin.All the extra vitamins in the body are excreted through urine.The recommended daily dosage for adults is 0.0001 oz (400 mcg) per day and for lactating mothers, it’s 0.0001 oz (500 mcg) per day, while for pregnant ladies it is 0.0002 oz (600 mcg) per day.
Parents have been fighting their kids for ages in efforts to feed them dark green leafy vegetables.
