VITAMIN B1 - THIAMINE

Calm your nerves

Vitamin B1 or Thiamine is involved in all key metabolic processes in the nervous system, heart, blood cells and muscles. Thus is considered as one of the most important members of the B group of vitamins. Optimum intake of the vitamin helps to cope with stress.

Role in the Body:

Thiamine protects against imbalances caused by alcohol consumption. It helps to convert sugar to energy in the muscles and bones. It also helps in the treatment of neurological diseases, promotes growth, protects the heart muscle, and stimulates brain action. It plays an important role in the normal functioning of the entire nervous system. It is also essential for the digestion process.

Sources:

Thiamine is found in all plant and animal foods but whole grains, brown rice, seafood, legumes and cereals are the best sources of it. Thiamine is usually found in the germ and outer layer. 

Deficiency Symptoms:

Loss of appetite, poor digestion, chronic constipation, loss of weight, mental depression, nervous exhaustion, fatigue and poor memory are the symptoms of Thiamin deficiency. It can lead to muscular weakness, leg cramps, slow heartbeat, irritability, and defective hydrochloric acid production in the stomach and consequent digestive disorders. 

Deficiency of Thiamine can be induced by excessive use of alcohol and processed/refined foods.

Healing and Therapeutic Properties:

Taken in large therapeutic doses of up to 50,000 mcg a day, Thiamine is beneficial in the treatment of constipation and other digestive disorders, neuritis and other nervous troubles, as well as mental depression. It is life saving in the treatment of cardiovascular disease related to beriberi and infantile beriberi. Thiamine is also used with beneficial results in the treatment of alcoholism, insomnia and stress.

Toxicity:

There is no known toxic effect of Thiamine.