Vitamin B3 is not one of the glamour vitamins and is not as commonly understood. That being said, there is a lot of value to be found in these vitamins.
Vitamin B3 is known by several other names. It is also called niacin, nicotinamide, nicotinic acid, and niacinamide. Niacin is the most common of these names and is used on nutritional labels frequently. Vitamin B3 is very soluble in hot water and in alcohol. It does not get cooked out of food with the heat of light cooking, but does tend to be lost in cooking water.
The body has the ability to manufacture vitamin B3 from an amino acid known as tryptophane. As with all vitamins, B3 is needed to supplement the body’s production. B3 is stored mostly in the liver and it is absorbed directly through the intestines.
Vitamin B3 has many uses in the body. It is needed in the digestive processes and it also activates various enzymes such as ones that feed the brain, regulate blood pressure, and even control the level of cholesterol in the body. There is also a great deal of connection between vitamin B3 and the production of various hormones in the body. These include cortisone, insulin, and thyroxine. Also, the production of just about any sex related hormone is associated with vitamin B3.
Vitamin B3 is also very much involved in the metabolic process. It has a significant role in the breaking down of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into energy. This factor makes it into a very important element in dieting and weight reduction programs that rely on good metabolism. Some of the main sources for vitamin B3 are eggs, liver, wheat germ, and whole grains. Sunflower seeds are very high in B3. Almost all varieties of beans are a good source also.
There are a couple of dietary habits that could indicate a need to increase B3 intake. It is recommended that additional B3 be taken by people with diets that are very high in corn or corn based products. When large amounts of refined sugars or alcohol are consumed, additional B3 would also be required. Vitamin B3 or niacin is an often overlooked nutrient in a healthy eating plan, but the facts about vitamin B3 show it deserves a lot more attention. The human body is a finely tuned and complex machine and vitamin B3 is one of the cogs that make it run
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