Published 03/08/2016
This month, I thought that I would start to look at the B vitamins.
They play such an important role in our overall health. A Vitamin B1 deficiency has been linked to severe mental illness. Acute deficiency causes the condition known as “Beriberi”, which literally means “I can’t I can’t” in Singhalese. This reflects the damaging effect it has on its victims.
Prolonged Diarrhoea may impair the body’s ability to absorb B1, and serious Liver disease also prevents its metabolism. Swelling of our tissues (Oedema) is a common side effect of this lack of Vitamin B1, as is muscle pain.
Fresh food is so important to our well being, especially when you realise that with take away and processed foods we lose so much of these precious vitamins.
Signs of a deficiency of B1 include abdominal pain, muscle aches, joint pains heart changes, poor coordination , tingling sensations, gastrointestinal disturbances , constipation, laboured breathing , numbness of hands and feet, poor concentration, depression, apathy, drowsiness, memory loss, enlarged liver, extreme fatigue and weakness, hyperthyroidism.
Natural sources of B1 include: Acai berries ,almonds, apples, apricots, aubergine , bamboo shoots, beans, beef , beetroot, brown rice buckwheat, caraway seeds cheese, chia seeds, corn, eggs, green tea, oysters, mushrooms, lean pork, Rice (black or brown), sea bass, scallops ,lentils, mung beans, nuts, papaya, cocoa beans ,wheat germ, organ meats , oats, plums and prunes, venison, oranges, parsley, parsnips and passionfruit.
It is wise to learn the functions of these vitamins and how we can procure them from our food sources. This is much easier and cheaper than purchasing supplements which a lot of people do not finish. They end up being thrown out as they become out of date.
Next month I will concentrate on B2 (Riboflavin).
Good health is Wealth
Barbara
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici./ FreeDigitalPhotos.net