Foundation of food, nutrition, and health

Vitamin B1

Healthy living depends on the type of food we consume, as all nutrients required by the body to properly function are derived from what we take as food.  Nutrients primarily perform three functions in the body, that is control and regulation of chemical or metabolic processes in the body, provide the energy required by various body organs and contribute to the body structure. Major food content can be categorized into four major categories, that is carbohydrates, proteins, fats & lipids, vitamins, and minerals. Of interest in this discussion are vitamins, more specifically Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)

Vitamin B1 is essentially a water-soluble B vitamin and it acts as a coenzyme essential for the conversion of food or dietary into cellular energy needed by the body organs to perform various metabolic functions. Vitamin B1 helps in metabolizes food components thus facilitating the synthesis of energy for the body. Another key impotence of Thiamine is that it supports the cell replication and division in body stems including brain and skin. Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is mainly found in foods like squash, brown rice, and pork meat, vegetables, green peas, soybeans, sunflower seeds, spinach, orange, granola, etc.

It acts as a coenzyme in the metabolic process thus facilitating the production of energy for the body, and various configurations of thiamin and phosphate occur in the intestine to enhance the vitamin’s role in metabolism. The most important form of vitamin B1 is thiamin diphosphate. It also facilitates enzymes that initiate various chemical reactions that break down proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids and the conversion of amino acids, sugar, and starch into valuable energy for the body.  Vitamin B1 is also essential in the synthesis of RNA and DNA. They are stored in the liver but not for long therefore it is recommended that they constantly are replenished. Lack of enough Vitamin B1 in diet can cause loss of appetite, fatigue, tingling sensation, muscle weakness, blurry vision, nausea, etc.

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