What You Probably Didn't Know About Vitamin B

Vitamin B is useful for many aspects of health that may seem unrelated. B vitamins support cellular health, gut flora, improving eyesight, supporting energy levels and, efficient sleep.

Recently, I learned there are B vitamins that are antioxidants. It turns out that vitamins B1, B2, B6, and vitamin B12 serve as antioxidants in the body. I should also note that I have discovered that B vitamins are known to have pro-oxidant properties.

Anti-oxidative Properties
Antioxidants work to counter levels of oxidative stress in the body. Whether or not you experience the antioxidant or pro-oxidant properties of B vitamins depends on the physiological context. Certain types of stress are essential for growth. For example, cardiovascular exercise and resistance training be considered a mild form of tension or stress. In specific contexts, mild oxidative stress may help protect the body from infections and diseases.

Gut Flora
Healthy gut flora thrives on vitamins and minerals. Gut flora relies upon a host of B vitamins to provide various benefits to the body. Vitamin B insufficiencies or deficiencies may have noticeable effects and relatively quickly address with proper nutrition and supplementation.

Eyesight
There are three of the B complex vitamins that are important for eyesight. Some studies suggest that Vitamin B6, B9, and B12 all play a role in eyesight maintenance. Deficiencies in these essential nutrients may lead to age-related macular degeneration. One chemical compound in the body that a deficiency in these nutrients can promote is homocysteine. Low levels of these B vitamins can lead to high levels of homocysteine. Elevated homocysteine levels are often associated with inflammation and vascular diseases such as strokes and heart attacks.

Energy Levels
We generally eat food for energy. B Vitamins use the food we eat to create ATP--the energy currency in the body. If you are looking to improve physical performance, your energy levels are what your body will depend upon to realize help you achieve your fitness goals.

I stumbled upon the benefits of vitamin B during the first few months I spent training for my first triathlon. I quickly learned that certain foods would have a fantastic effect on my ability to ride my bike faster. There were foods that I felt helped me to ride faster than I had thought possible.

Efficient Sleep
It may seem counterintuitive, but B vitamins also helped me sleep better. What appeared to be a stimulant also works well as assisting the body in recover well during sleep. Supplementing with a Vitamin B complex right before going to sleep was revolutionary for me. Who would ever think that what gives you energy during the day also helps you sleep well at night? When I supplement correctly, I am often able to wake up without feeling groggy. One thing I should note, though, is that there have been times when I took the vitamin B supplement and ended up staying awake much of the night because I was not prepared to go to sleep directly afterward.

There are many more benefits of ensuring that you get enough of this vital group of nutrients. These, though, have been the most influential on my fitness outcomes.

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