Know Your B Vitamins: Get More Energy

Energy and endurance – these are two main reasons why people take supplements. With today’s fast-paced and hectic lifestyles it seems we are all looking to avoid a personal energy crisis.

Maximizing our daily intake of B-vitamins is a good place to start. After all, they help us release more energy from foods we eat, and they’re essential to converting carbohydrates into ATP–the cellular fuel our body actually runs on.

Know Your B-Vitamins

Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) is needed to process carbohydrates, fat and protein. Every cell of the body requires B1 to form ATP.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) is needed to process amino acids and fats, as well as help convert carbohydrates into ATP.

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) is used in the process of releasing energy from carbohydrates.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) is the key vitamin for processing amino acids.

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) is needed for normal nerve cell activity, and works with folic acid in controlling homocysteine.

Pantothenic Acid, sometimes called vitamin B5, is involved in the Kreb’s cycle of energy production. It also helps activate the adrenal glands.

Biotin is a water-soluble B-vitamin that helps metabolize protein, fats and carbohydrates.

B-Vitamin information taken from The Natural Pharmacy, ©1998 Virtual Health, LLC; pages 141, 193, 210-216.