What is Niacin Good for?

Vitamin B3 is a water soluble vitamin, like all B vitamins and occurs in food in the form of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide. Niacin may also be produced from tryptophan, an amino acid which is obtained through food intake.

Where is Vitamin B3 Found?

• Animal sources: Veal, poultry, lamb and pork. The liver is abundant in Niacin content. Fish are also a good source of niacin, especially tuna. Milk and dairy products, along with eggs, are rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that synthesizes 50% of niacin in the body.

• Niacin from plant sources: Whole grain cereals and their derivatives, also peas, potatoes, artichokes and peanuts. Vegetable sources of tryptophan are oats, dates and avocados.

• Natural Supplements: Vitamin B3 or Niacin is found in natural supplements and vitamin B complex in the form of nicotinic acid, niacinamide and inositol hexaniacinate.

Benefits of Niacin

• High Cholesterol: Niacin (however not niacinamide) started being utilized from the 1950s to reduce high amounts of triglycerides and LDL in the bloodstream and is efficient in increasing HDL cholesterol.

• Atherosclerosis: given that niacin lowers triglycerides and LDL in the blood, it can assist in preventing hardening of the arteries, which is properly called atherosclerosis.

• Diabetes: Evidence suggests that niacinamide may help delay insulin dependence in type 1 diabetes. Niacinamide could help to protect the cells temporarily, but additional research is essential to confirm this. Any person with diabetes ought to consume niacin primarily under the guidance of a qualified doctor.

• Osteoarthritis: A preliminary study suggests that niacinamide could possibly improve arthritis conditions, and this includes increasing joint mobility and lowering the amount of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) consumed. Additional studies are needed in this area.

• Alzheimer's disease: Studies reveal that folks who receive increased levels of niacin in their diet have a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease. Additional studies are needed to confirm this.

• Skin conditions: Researchers are studying topical forms of niacin to treat acne, aging and prevent skin cancer, although it is too early to know whether it is effective.

Dose

The daily requirements of niacin are 6 to 12 mg for children and 12 to 18 mg for adults.

Precautions

You ought to take dietary supplements only under the guidance of an experienced physician.

Large amounts of niacin (50 mg or more) may cause side effects. The most common are burning sensation, tingling in the face and chest, and skin redness. Consuming an aspirin 30 minutes prior to taking niacin may help reduce these symptoms.

Individuals with a background of stomach ulcers or liver disease should not supplement with Niacin.

People with diabetes or gallbladder disease should not take Niacin.

Niacin ought not to be used by someone with gout.

Niacin should not be consumed with tetracycline since it impedes the absorption and effectiveness of this medication (all B vitamins act this way).

Niacin can increase the effects of anticoagulants and the risk of bleeding.

It increases the effects of antihypertensive drugs.

It can decrease the effectiveness of drugs that lower cholesterol (colestipol, colesevelam and cholestyramine). For this reason, niacin and medicines should be taken at different times of day.

There is recent scientific evidence suggesting that taking niacin with simvastatin can slow the advancement of heart disease. Then Again, the combination may also raise the likelihood of serious side effects such as inflammation of the muscles or liver.

This vitamin may increase blood glucose levels. Men and women with diabetes need to control their levels of blood sugar when taking Niacin supplements.

Isoniazid (INH) can lower levels of niacin in the body thus causing a deficiency.

Nicotine patches with niacin may possibly aggravate or increase the risk of skin redness.

Did you know that vitamin B3 ...?

Whenever you take a B vitamin individually, for a long time, you will have to supplement with a B-complex tablet otherwise some vitamin B deficiencies may occur.

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Enjoy the Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper instead of Drugs and Energy Drinks

What is cayenne pepper? Cayenne is a wonderful plant, whose remarkable properties are still little appreciated, and the use of which is mainly as a food additive in cooking.

It is quite often found in the form of seasoning powder, dried and ground chili pepper. Known worldwide herbalist John Christopher so zealously advocated the greatest possible use of the seasoning that it earned him the nickname "Dr. Cayenne." Another herbalist, Dr. Richard Schulze, recommends putting cayenne pepper at the top of the list of the ten most significant herbs that need to be available at home. Why? Because cayenne pepper "makes the nine other herbs work more efficiently."

What is so wonderful about cayenne pepper? This herb stimulates and accelerates blood circulation stimulating the cells to carry nutrients more efficiently. Also, cayenne pepper has a special set of properties, which act on the body, and in particular on the cardiovascular system. Dr. Schulze points out: "Cayenne pepper consists of many excellent phytoelements, vitamins (especially C and E) and minerals (including magnesium). It purifies the blood, allowing hormonal signals to pass through the body without delay and loss, thus making the immune system's response to them faster and more efficient. "

So, among a good deal of cayenne pepper benefits it can be said that it:

1. Strengthens the heart and it has been said that it is able to stop the onset of a heart attack.

2. Accelerates blood circulation, cleanses the arteries from sclerotic plaques, restoring red blood cells.

3. Helps digestion and even cures peptic ulcer disease (as paradoxical as it may sound!).

4. Stimulates liver and gallbladder.

5. Able to fight prostate cancer and reduce the amount of tumors.

6. Has strong anti-inflammatory properties and alleviates the symptoms of arthritis.

7. Able to treat hemorrhoids.

8. Stops bleeding.

9. Normalizes the amount of triglycerides in the blood.

10. Has antifungal properties.

Among other advantages cayenne pepper is much cheaper than drugs and has no side effects. You would think that a side effect of red pepper would be a stomach ulcer or gastritis? Completely in vain. Doctors have long been aware that the cause of gastric diseases is not spicy food, but the bacteria Helicobacter Pylori. Of course, if you have untreated gastritis, the use of pepper will add discomfort, and, therefore, you should first get rid of the bacteria H. Pylori (especially now that it's pretty easy) and then you can eat as much pepper as you like, without any kind of consequences for health.

How to choose and how to use cayenne pepper

Unfortunately, currently chili pepper, which is made of powder of cayenne pepper, as well as other products, may be filled with a variety of pesticides, herbicides and other products of little use. Therefore, it is desirable to buy organically grown peppers from reputable manufacturers. Cayenne pepper is ranked depending on its strength on the Scoville scale Units (SCU) and usually has sharpness of 40 thousand, 60 thousand or 90 thousand units. Until you get used to this kind of product, it would be better to get started with an average intensity of 40 thousand units.

A particularly valuable substance contained in red pepper is capsaicin, which has a medicinal effect. The higher the sharpness level, the greater the capsaicin in a pepper and so its usefulness. This material is so useful that it is produced in the form of capsules and sold in pharmacies. But capsaicin in the drug form is not as effective as natural capsaicin. Natural pepper affects the nerves of the mouth and throat and stimulates the nervous system and circulatory system and acts immediately once placed in the mouth. So it is better to use natural capsaicin, and add pepper to your food. Chinese medicine recommends adding 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper powder in a glass of water with lemon juice, drink it several times a day. For first-timers, it is better to start with a smaller quantity, such as half a teaspoon for a few days and slowly increase it.

If you actually are not used to spicy food, then wash down the pepper with cold water or milk to relieve the discomfort. Having said that, you will certainly be surprised how quickly you get used to the sharpness, and soon cease to notice it. That means you can buy more hot peppers.

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