Vitamin B1 and its function
Vitamin B1 has its own vital functions and we should be aware of what they are. Vitamins are categorized into water soluble and fat soluble. Vitamin B1 is a water soluble vitamin and though generally not stored in the body some is in the liver, heart and kidney. It is not stored long so it is important to bring new Vitamin b1 into the body daily. Whatever is not needed by the body will then be excreted in the urine.
In 1936 Vitamin B1 also known as thiamine was formed and its main function was to convert blood sugar into energy. It also keeps your mucous membranes healthy and is important for the nervous system, cardiovascular and muscular function. In some recent studies, Vitamin B1 has been shown to help prevent vascular complications and eye problems associated with diabetes
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The best sources of Vitamin B1 are yeasts and liver. The following foods are considered good sources of Vitamin B1:
- Pork
- Whole-grain cereals
- Rye and whole-wheat flour
- Wheat germ
- Navy beans and kidney beans
Vitamin B1 deficiency is rare; the most known disease for it is called beriberi, a condition that involves confusion, muscle wasting, nerve problems and a rapid heartbeat. It is normally only seen in babies not drinking fortified milk formula or in alcoholics.
To keep the Vitamin B high in the foods you buy and prepare, keep them refrigerated and away from strong light or heat. Vitamin B1 is a white crystalline substance, destroyed at elevated temperatures and can stand short boiling up to100 degree centigrade. Hence it is only partly lost in cooking or canning processes. Autoclave, long boiling or boiling with alkali, destroys it. But it is stable in acid medium.
Knowing about Vitamin B1 and its function is important so we can do what is needed to bring our bodies into a healthier environment. Surely it can be an amazing stepping stone to well being.
