Healthy B.P.M.

During an episode of Kimora Life in the Fab Lane (one of my guilty pleasures) she and her staff were a bit under the weather. The fabulous one offered her staff a B12 shot to get them back on track and serving her every need. Since then I’ve asked some questions and done a little digging about the whole B complex thing. Here’s what I’ve found out.

The B complex is essential for the body to perform a multitude of functions. However, the B complex vitamin is not simply one very complicated vitamin, as the name might imply. There are actually eight B vitamins that are in the B complex vitamin as well as a few other related substances. The eight vitamins that make up the B complex vitamin are thiamine or vitamin B1, riboflavin or vitamin B2, niacin or vitamin B3, pyridoxine or vitamin B6, cobalamine or vitamin B12, folic acid, pantothenic acid and biotin.  The other related substances that are also in the B complex vitamin include choline, inositol and para-aminobenzoic acid. I know that’s a lot of stuff we can’t really pronounce and don’t know what they are. Still and yet, it’s nice to be informed.

Every part of the B complex vitamin performs its own individual function within the body but it is when they work together that they provide essential maintenance for the body to remain healthy. The B vitamin complex vitamins are water soluble and are important that enough of them are consumed daily. The body cannot store water soluble vitamins and this is why a daily dose is needed. At certain times in our lives we may need additional quantities. Of course, there is a recommended daily allowance for the B complex vitamins that varies according to the sex and age of a person. However, doctors and other health professionals have discovered the benefits of increasing the intake of the B complex vitamin to help overcome certain illnesses.

Research has found that during times of anxiety and stress the B complex vitamin can be beneficial in helping alleviate the symptoms. Fatigue can be a symptom of a multitude of illnesses as well as simply overdoing things but the B complex works wonders to alleviate general tiredness and lethargy. Interestingly, some skin conditions, such as dermatitis, can also benefit from the B complex vitamin. In fact, a number of creams and other skin preparations contain added vitamin B complex that can be absorbed by the skin to alleviate the condition. The condition of a person’s hair will also be greatly improved with sufficient B complex vitamin intake. Who knew? In the next post I’ll share with you a list of what foods contain the B vitamins. Take care and be well.