Niacin and Cholesterol

Vitamin B3 is also known as niacin. Niacin has recently been shown to have significant benefits for lowering cholesterol, and to have no side effects for most people. The tests were done at levels around 375 milligrams a day. Vitamin B3 is not only beneficial for cholesterol levels, it helps glucose levels, high blood pressure, circulation, hormone levels, hydrochloric acid levels, healthy skin and hair and energy levels.

B3 sounds like a wonder vitamin, doesn’t it? It comes pretty close. Vitamin B3 (niacin) has so many benefits for your health it’s amazing. So far studies have not found side effects in most people. Unless you have certain conditions, it is perfectly fine to take B3. If you have a thyroid condition or if you take insulin for your diabetes, you may want to check with your doctor first to make B3 is right for you.

B3 works best with other B vitamins. Each B vitamin works to enhance the other B vitamins. If you have the chance to take a B complex vitamin, or a “stress tab”, you will enhance the effects of the B3 in your diet. For example, B6 enhances skin quality and tone when you take it with B3 and water. B vitamins also help absorb other supplements, like calcium.

If you have liver problems, or if you drink more than one or two drinks a day, you might have trouble absorbing B3 (niacin). Alcohol causes liver issues that interfere with absorbing nutrients. One of the nutrients that alcohol and liver issues keep from being absorbed by your system is calcium, the other is B3 (niacin). If you do have alcohol or liver issues, you might want to consider a variation on niacin (B3) called niacinimide, which is easier on sensitive systems.

B3 does make an appearance naturally in many foods. You can find it in many of the food that are already in your diet. B3 is found in high concentrations in dark green vegetables, eggs, yeast, milk, some meat and cereals. Turkey doesn’t have B3, but if you et Turkey and other foods containing tryptophan, you’re getting your B3 because your body turns tryptophan into B3.

If you aren’t taking a B3 or B complex supplement and you don’t get enough in your daily diet, you might find yourself tired, stressed and suffering from headaches , break outs and other problems. All of these can be signs of a vitamin B3 deficiency. A B3 deficiency is rare, and could be a sign of a more serious problem like diabetes. Diabetes keeps your body from absorbing the nutrients it needs, like niacin.

The best way to add B3 to your diet is to eat more dark green vegetables. This also adds other nutrients at the same time, which is a smart thing to do for your overall health. Dark green vegetables not only have B3, they also have anti oxidants and other beneficial vitamins and minerals. This is the best way to arm yourself for improved health.