Vitamin B1 or Thiamin as it is often referred to is an essential element our bodies need for many important functions like a healthy heart, a healthy gastrointestinal tract and a healthy central nervous system.  Vitamin B1 is a powerful antioxidant that helps your body produce energy from the carbohydrates that we ingest.  It fights against free radicals that cause cell damage and also strengthens liver function.

Your liver is the primary blood cleansing organ in your body that cleans out unwanted toxins.  By turning the glucose in our body into energy B1 helps us prevent fatigue and muscle breakdown.  By regulation energy production it also increases blood flow to the memory tissue.  Also, B1 helps strengthen the muscles of the stomach and intestines to help carry away the unwanted toxins from our system.

When we consume a lot of calories like excess amounts of sugar and starches, B1 is essential to convert those extra calories into energy so we don’t just pack on the pounds.  You may need to add a B1 supplement to your diet if you use oral contraceptives, antibiotics, sulfa drugs or suffer from mental illness, Alzheimer’s disease or alcoholism as these will deplete your reserves of B1 in your body.  Some signs of a deficiency of B1 are: depression, fatigue, constipation, loss of appetite, muscle atrophy, enlarged liver or numbness in the legs.  Food sources rich in Vitamin B1 are poultry, liver, nuts, fish, egg yolks, peas and rice bran.  Before using any dietary supplement be sure to consult with a medical professional to see if it is the right supplement for you.