Episode 6: Navigating the Supplement Aisle (Part 2)
Episode 6: Navigating the Supplement Aisle (Part 2)
Vitamin B Complex
Hello and welcome back to the show, or if this is your fist time joining us thanks so much for coming to hang out today. My name is tyler and I am your host as well as an herbalist. I am the founder of Relyt, a wellness company creating products rooted in herbalism and crafted for enjoyment.
I feel just so lucky and thankful to be doing this, all of this, the business the podcast, creating new formulas, it’s all such a dream. What started as a self-healing journey led me to this passion for plant medicine, which then led me to launching all of this. Just feeling super thankful today! Let’s get into the show though , this is Part 2 of a series I’m calling, “Navigating The Supplement Aisle.” If you didn’t catch last week’s episode, I talked about Vitamin A. Feel free to give it a listen after this episode, as we will be diving into several different vitamins and minerals during this series so you can confidently choose your supplements or decide how you want to fill your vitamin box or your plate, depending on what makes the most sense for the vitamin or mineral we are talking about or what makes the most sense for you and your life.
First, I am not a doctor. Anything that we discuss on this show is intended to inform and empower not treat or diagnose. Always consult with your medical doctor before trying any protocol whether it’s herbal or not. Alright, now onto the good stuff.
So, today we are going to be talking about Vitamin B-Complex. The B-vitamins help to maintain the health of our nerves, skin, eyes, hair, mouth, liver, our muscle tone, proper brain function and tone of the gastrointestinal tract. The B vitamins that I will be discussing today are B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12. It’s best to take all the B vitamins together because too much or too little of one can create an imbalance in others. Unlike vitamin A that I recommended getting from food in the form of the pre-curser beta-carotene, Vitamin B complex is one I personally take in my daily supplement intake and that I recommend for many people. If you are on an oral contraceptive birth control, or drink a lot of caffeine or alcohol, I can’t recommend B vitamins enough. Intake of hormonal birth control, caffeine or alcohol deplete these levels and it’s a good idea to supplement this vitamin.
B vitamins are water-soluble (unlike the fat soluble vitamins that are stored in our bodies) so they need to be replenished more often and they act as coenzymes. Coenzymes help enzymes react chemically with other substances and are involved in energy production. They may be useful in alleviating depression and anxiety and adequate intake of the b vitamins is important for the elderly since nutrients just aren’t as well absorbed as we age.
B vitamins are found in whole grains, nuts and root vegetables, also, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products and fruit, but let’s start with Vitamin B1 also known as Thiamine.
B1 enhances circulation, carbohydrate metabolism, can improve your mental attitude, fight sea and air sickness, and enhances the production of hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloride acid is so important because it breaks down food helping with proper digestion which means better absorption of nutrients. We want this acid! B1 also acts as an antioxidant, preventing the body from the degenerative effects of aging, alcohol consumption and smoking.
Signs of a B1 deficiency include, fatigue, constipation, enlarged liver, forgetfulness, irritability, tingling sensations, numbness in hands and feet, poor coordination, and sore or weak muscles.
I recommend finding a really great B-Complex vitamin with all of these in it, but food sources high in B-1 include: brown rice, egg yolks, fish, legum
