The Vegan Lifestyle

Vitamin B3: Health Benefits, Source, And Dosage. Vitamins are very important for the excellent functioning of the body. The lack of them results to weakness, disease or even death. Vitamins work together with enzymes (chemical catalyst) thus their being called as “co-enzymes”.

Among the important vitamins needed by the body is the vitamin B complex. This is a group of vitamins that are needed in the proper functioning of the body, specially for the brain and the nervous system.

One of these B complex is vitamin B3 (niacin, niacinamide, nicotinic acid). This vitamin maintains and strengthens the gastro-intestinal tract, circulation, and the nervous system. It is needed for the protein and carbohydrate metabolism. Vitamin 3 increases blood flow to the skin and body extremities. It is good for cold hands and feet.

Vitamin 3 helps the body to produce many hormones. It is important in energy production, and in the metabolism of fat, cholesterol, and carbohydrate. Vitamin 3 is used in over 50 different chemical reactions in the body. It also helps to regulate the blood sugar, and antioxidant mechanisms. It lowers bad cholesterol, and reduces early onset of arthritis and diabetes. It is effective in the treatment of early diabetes.

Vitamin 3 mild deficiency symptoms are canker sores, irritability, insomnia, nervousness, chronic headache, digestive problems, diarrhea, and anemia. Severe deficiency symptoms include disorientation, mental dullness, pellagra, and neurasthenia.

The rich sources of vitamin 3 are brewer’s yeast, brown rice, wheat germ, rice bran, peanuts, sunflower seeds, whole wheat, torula yeast, and green vegetables.

Vitamin B3 is needed in the assimilation of vitamin C and other B vitamins. To be more effective, this vitamin should be taken together with other B vitamins because it works closely with them.

Dosage: RDA 18 mg; ODA 100 mg; TDA 2,000-6,000 mg (time release). Megadoses of up to 25,000 mg are used for the treatment of schizophrenia, arteriosclerosis, and high cholesterol. But prolonged megadose can induce stomach ulcers, liver damage, colitis, jaundice, and male impotence. Note: The above dosages are for adults. Children 12-17 years old should reduce the dose to 3/4 of the recommended, and those 6-11 years old, to 1/2 of the recommended dose.

Fruits, grains, nuts, and vegetables is the original diet of man. Man’s teeth and digestive system were originally designed by God to consume this diet.

Fruits are good for the body. Eating fruits and vegetables keeps diseases away. Raw fruits and vegetables are better eaten raw. Canned fruits are less nutritious, and are loaded with harmful preservatives. Do not eat sulphured fruits. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating to remove dirts, and traces of pesticides. Among the best fruits are apples, grapes, avocado, pineapples, mangoes, bananas, and oranges.

Fruit juices are good for the body. It restores good health and vitality. Fruit juices combined with vegetable juices have curative powers for so many diseases including cancers. Terminal cases of cancers were cured completely.

Vegetables, like fruits and nuts, have phytochemicals and nutrients necessary for good health. Most of them are good source of vitamins and minerals for excellent functioning of the body.

Vegetables are best when eaten raw. Cooked vegetables lose lots of nutrients and enzymes. Raw vegetables have curative powers. Lots of testimonies proved that eating raw vegetables does wonders. Crippling diseases were cured through the administration of raw vegetables in the diet. Cooked food easily ferment and becomes acidic, whereas, raw food are replete with live enzymes that are very important for proper digestion of food. Raw fruits and vegetables are easily digested, absorbed and  quickly assimilated by the body to supply the needed nutrients to all organs of the body. The best of vegetables are broccoli, asparagus, bitter gourd, squash, cayenne, tomatoes, cucumber, raddish, horseraddish, lettuce, mustards, red beet, alfalfa, spinach, celery, kale, collards, and other green leafy vegetables.

Grains and nuts are also very essential for health. Eat only whole grains. Never eat white flour products. Eat bread made of whole wheat for more fiber to clean the colon. Oats, millet, rye, and buckwheat are the best of grains. Brown rice are also good source of vitamin B complex which are very essential for a healthy nervous system.

Nuts and seeds should be eaten fresh. Rancid oils from decaying nuts are not good for the body. Nuts and seeds are rich source of protein; they should be eaten sparingly. Chew the nuts to break down their amino acids for better processing by the stomach acid. Never use peanut butter that has undergone the process of hydrogenation – it is dangerous to the body. The best nuts and seeds are almond, chestnuts, peanuts, cashew nuts, pistachio nuts, pili nuts, sunflower seeds, squash and gourd seeds.