Riboflavin: Build Red Blood Cells and Halt Production of Cancer Cells

Quick! Run to a mirror and stick out your tongue. What color is it?

This is a little trick you can do to tell if you may need more riboflavin in your diet. If your tongue is pretty and pink you probably have enough riboflavin, but if it's a bit purplish then you may be lacking riboflavin in your diet.

Riboflavin deficiency can lead to cataracts, conjunctivitis, fatigue, dermatitis, birth defects, oily hair, blurred vision in poor light, and sensitivity to sunlight, just to name a few.

Riboflavin also appears to halt the production of cancer cells. The one primary cause of cancer growth is when respiration of oxygen is replaced with fermentation of sugar. Riboflavin is vital in the process of oxygen respiration, but it doesn't work alone. It also needs iron, niacin, and pantothenate. Riboflavin is the main cue for cell respiration because it provides oxygen for the cells to breathe.

Cells get energy from the oxidation or burning of food, but riboflavin deficiency can hinder that process which causes cells to seek an alternate source of energy which requires no oxygen. This process of getting an alternate source of energy starts an uncontrolled growth process that we call cancer.

Riboflavin also stimulates the production of red blood cells. It's a water soluble nutrient so it's rare to get toxic levels, but it needs replacing daily. The RDA for riboflavin is 1.6 milligrams although many nutritionists often recommend getting more than the RDA guidelines.

Nutritionists also suggest that people who drink at least 3 cups of milk a day generally have normal levels of riboflavin, as opposed to those who rarely drink milk. But considering riboflavin is light sensitive, it may be a good idea to supplement. At home you can store milk in a dark refrigerator or put it in a dark container, but remember it's been exposed to light in the grocery store.

Riboflavin is necessary during pregnancy too. It ensures the fetus will develop a normal, healthy skeletal system. Riboflavin deficiency in the mother causes the fetus to be born with malformation in lab rats, according to the school of medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. Riboflavin ensures proper growth of the brain and develops the mind, so it's not only important during pregnancy but also in the early childhood years. Normal brain function is something we need throughout our lives, but often nutritional deficiencies lead to many neurological disorders. Many of these disorders can be linked to riboflavin deficiency.