Thiamin: How Does it Benefit Me and Where Can I Find It?

Thiamin, or vitamin B1, is a great addition to any diet. It can help you loose weight, burn carbohydrates, and give you a much needed and natural energy boost. There are many benefits to this little vitamin and it can be found in just about any food. The risk of overdose with thiamin is only possible when taking thiamin injections. These can cause anaphylactic reactions. If you are eating foods that are high in thiamin or taking an oral supplement, there is no fear of overdose. Your body will naturally dispose of any excess through waste products. If you are maintaining a balanced diet high in fruits, vegetables, grains, and pork, there is no need for any supplements. Since your body discards the excess, you would literally be peeing away your supplement budget by adding thiamin to a diet that is already high in B1.

There are several benefits to taking thiamin. Not only does it help to speed the metabolism and give a natural energy boost, but it can also improve the nervous system and brain function. Thiamin is a very important part of the digestion process and is needed to break down carbohydrates. This will allow the body to burn these carbs instead of turning them to fat molecules for later use. By burning through the carbs and producing energy in the metabolic phase, Thiamin can help you to stay alert and awake all day long with no crash later. It will also help you to burn off any unwanted fat that you may have. With proper diet and exercise, B1 should be a very big part of any weight loss regime.

Not only does it help you fight fatigue and loose weight, thiamin will also help you to be more alert and improve concentration and memory. In a recent study, volunteers with a thiamin intake of 50 mg per day received significantly higher scores on mental awareness, memory, reflex speed, mood. Thiamin has been proven to increase test scores and knowledge retention in students at almost every level. B1 is a very important part of the brain function and can effect it both positively and negatively. A lack of thiamin in the diet has been shown to cause fatigue and sluggish performance and, in severe deficiency cases, even dementia and other neurological problems.

There are several diseases and ailments that thiamin can aid in the prevention and cure of. There are several metabolic disorders that physicians use thiamin to ease the symptoms of. These include Leigh's disease, lactic acidosis, and maple syrup urine disease. Thiamin has also been known to improve Alzheimer's cases, and several studies have shown a direct link to the disease and a deficiency of thiamin. While thiamin can not cure Alzheimer's, it is a very effective preventative measure and can ease some of the symptoms once the disease has started. Thiamin has also been shown to prevent atherosclerosis in diabetic patients. Thiamin can help to prevent the hardening of the arteries, especially when that is from unbalanced glucose levels like those found in diabetics. B1 has also been shown to prevent and reverse the effects of cataracts. Cancer is another disorder that thiamin can help to prevent and decreased levels of thiamin have been found in many cancer patients. Cancer patients need to increase their thiamin levels. It is not known to cure or reverse this problem, but cancer does lessen the levels of this vitamin in the body. To prevent other disorders and problems, it should be added as a supplement for these patients. Thiamin has also been known to ease the symptoms of Crohn's disease. Vitamin B1 is also used for several minor problems. Leg cramps, muscle aches, and fatigue can all be alleviated with the use of thiamin.

With all of these benefits and virtually no side effects (it may cause a slight rash to people sensitive to thiamin, but only if used as a supplement), there is no reason to not include thiamin in your diet. If you have a steady intake of whole grains, cereals, and vegetables, you are likely getting your daily allowance of thiamin. The current RDA is quite low though, at only 1.4 mg per day. You may want to increase your intake of thiamin, especially women, or add an oral supplement if your levels are below 50 mg per day. There are several energy supplements that use thiamin such as Five Hour Energy, and it is often supplemented in cereals. Frosted Mini Wheats is another very good source of this vitamin and is the main factor in their "full and focused" campaign. By adding another bowl of cereal to your diet, or some enriched pastas, you can easily reach a satisfactory level of thiamin. Pork and organ meats are another very good source of this vitamin as are nuts and legumes. A balanced diet should provide a proper amount of thiamin in your body and can help you to loose weight and feel much more energetic and alive.

Sources:

Thiamin, Vitamin B1: MedlinePlus Supplements

Thiamin - New World Encyclopedia

Thiamin