Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Way Beyond Energy! What Else Do B Vitamins Do?

Whether it’s for increased energy, cognitive performance, stress reduction or cardiovascular health, B vitamins play a critical role in your overall health. Moreso, B vitamin deficiency can lead to fatigue and lethargy, which is why B-complex supplements are excellent energy boosters and anti-stress formulas.
However, the benefits of B-vitamins go much further, playing critical roles in metabolism at the cellular level and hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body

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The B-complex is a group of eight vitamins, which include thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5) pyridoxine (B6), biotin (B7), folic acid (B9), and cyanocobalamin (B12). These vitamins are essential for the breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose, which provide energy for the muscles and brain. The B vitamins also aid in amino acid metabolism and act as coenzymes—compounds that unite with a protein component called an apoenzyme to form an active enzyme. These active enzymes are catalysts in the chemical reactions that transfer all available energy from food to the body. This is part of why the B-complex has come to be known as “the energy vitamin
The other feature of B vitamins which helps them earn this name is the support they provide in the proper formation of every cell in the body—particularly in nerve cells. B6 and B12 contribute substantially to the formation of the myelin sheath around nerve cells, insulating them and speeding the transmission of synaptic signals throughout the brain
In addition to this support of the actual structure of nerves, vitamins B6 and B12 also work with vitamin B9 to aid in the manufacture of three very important neurotransmitters. Two of these are serotonin and dopamine, which work in tandem to regulate mood, motivation and cognitive abilities. Serotonin is a primary contributor to feelings of happiness and well-being, and plays a secondary role in memory and learning. Dopamine, on the other hand, is primarily involved in motivation, attention and working memory while serving as support in the biochemistry of mood and well-being. Together, they function as a complementary pair. The third neurotransmitter—gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA—regulates general excitability in the nervous system, making sure that all nerve cells are primed for full firing.
All of these neurotransmitters are crucial for optimal brain function and depend on readily available B-vitamins as precursors. B-vitamins are so functional in this regard it is even thought that supplementing with them offers potential benefit in moderating the symptoms of ADHD. As might be expected, a symptomatic lack of physical and mental energy—fatigue, irritability, poor concentration, anxiety anddepression—can all be signs of a B-vitamin deficiency. The fact that B-vitamins are water-soluble and are being constantly eliminated makes it especially important to have adequate intake and regular replenishment.
In summary, B-vitamins are as applicable to the physical aspects of energy as the mental. They are critically important not only for physically expediting the metabolism of energy, supporting nerve structure and providing for maximal neural conduction, but also for providing the brain with the chemical signals necessary to make it energized, invigorated and motivated.


nutraMetrix Isotonix Activated B-Complex delivers metabolically active forms of several B vitamins and minerals in isotonic form, ensuring that your body receives and uses vital nutrients quickly and efficiently

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