When not feeling well very few of us, right off the bat, think “I must be lacking a certain vitamin or nutrient” when often that is the very truth of the matter. Vitamin deficiencies, especially in B Complex, can cause such a wide range of health complaints that your guesses as to what the problem is may be all over the board. It may even seem confusing as to what type of a doctor you would even go to see for help.

Consulting a practitioner who does Nutritional Response Testing is always a safe bet as a solid place to start in order to get some answers and get your health back on track.

Let’s start with some of the basics:

What is B-Complex?

It is a group of several vitamins including Vitamin B1(thiamin), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal phosphate), Vitamin B7 (Biotin), Vitamin B9 (folate), and Vitamin B12 (cobalamin).

A deficiency in these vitamins can cause a wide range of symptoms.

How would you know if you had a Vitamin B deficiency? What to look out for:

• Skin issues - dermatitis, dry skin, cracks on the corners of your mouth, and easily bruised skin
• Fatigue – Muscle weakness, tiredness, lack of coordination, waning muscle mass, even numbness in fingers may occur.
• Headache
• Confusion
• Insomnia
• Sensitivity to light
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Anxiety
• Rage
• Forgetfulness
• Unease
• Depression
• Mental confusion
• Fear
• Hostility
• Sudden weight loss
• Lack of appetite
• If pregnant a lack of B vitamins can even cause neurological birth defects
• In the elderly, bad vision and red swollen eye lids are a sign
• A tendency to burst out crying for no real reason at all is a tell-tale symptom of B deficiency.
• Vegans are especially at high risk for this deficiency

B-Complex is vital for health. Many of these symptoms are being medicated as simply mood disorders in the medical and mental health communities when in reality it is possible for their source to be based in the physical body craving and desperately needing the right targeted supplementation.

Other than taking Vitamin B Complex as a direct supplement what can you do to make sure you are getting enough B vitamins in your diet?

Eating a diet that is rich in B vitamins is easy if you know what you need to include.

B1 – is found in Whole grains, legumes, and beans, spinach, kale, and peanuts, among others.

B2 - Almonds, rice, eggs, milk, yogurt, spinach, soy, and sprouts.

B3 - Milk, eggs, beans, green veg and red meat.

B5 - Eggs, meat, yogurt, beans, and legumes.

B6 - Seeds, rice, salmon, tuna, turkey, and chicken.

B7 - meats, such as chicken and pork, although it can also be found in egg yolks, potatoes, and nuts.

B9 - green leafy veg, asparagus, root vegetables, milk, wheat, beans, and salmon.

B12 - Vitamin B12 most commonly found in fish, pork, beef, dairy, and eggs.

If you are severely Vitamin B deficient you may benefit from supplementation in addition to dietary changes. It is important to talk with your nutritionist to get the very best professional guidance possible. Visit www.chiropractorbonitasprings.com or call 239-947-1177.

Nutritionist Bonita Springs | Chiropractor Bonita Springs