Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Benefits
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Vitamin B3 (niacin) benefits include:
- Vitamin B3 helps the body produce energy from foods eaten
Vitamin B3 (niacin) is used by the body to produce energy from the foods that are eaten, especially from foods rich in carbohydrates, vitamin B3 (niacin) helps to turn the carbohydrates into glucose to be used for energy all through the body. In this way, vitamin B3 (niacin) helps to maintain correct blood glucose levels by converting enough carbohydrates into glucose. - Vitamin B3 helps turn carbohydrates into glucose and helps control blood glucose levels
Vitamin B3 (niacin) is necessary to help metabolise not just carbohydrates but fats too. It is required to turn these fats into energy for use by the body. - Vitamin B3 helps to reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels
Numerous studies have shown that vitamin B3 (niacin) is involved in moving fats out of the body and lowering blood cholesterol levels. Studies have shown that vitamin B3 (niacin) is just as (and in some cases more) effective than the common medications used to lower blood levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol. The studies also showed that vitamin B3 (niacin) also increased blood levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol levels. Vitamin B3 (niacin) is especially useful in decreasing blood triglyceride levels in people that are genetically predisposed to having higher than normal levels. - Vitamin B3 helps to reduce blood triglyceride levels and helps the body use fats efficiently
Studies have also shown that the fat metabolism activity of vitamin B3 (niacin) assists with reducing blood triglyceride (fat) levels back to normal levels, so that there is less risk of fatty plaques clotting arteries and causing high risk for heart attack and stroke. - Vitamin B3 helps the heart
Vitamin B3 (niacin) has beneficial effects on the heart, as it helps to relax and widen blood vessels so that there is normal blood flow through them. This effect of Vitamin B3 (niacin) means that it is a vasodilator and could be very useful for people with high blood pressure, as it can be used to reduce their blood pressure levels back to normal. In addition, this vasodilation property of vitamin B3 (niacin) helps the heart by ensuring it is healthy and blood flow is regulated and normal. Vitamin B3 (niacin) also helps to thin the blood and this effect, together with the vasodilation property, it can help to prevent blood clots which can cause heart attack or stroke.
Studies have also shown that the fat metabolism activity of vitamin B3 (niacin) assists with reducing blood triglyceride (fat) levels back to normal levels
- Vitamin B3 may help with intermittent claudation
Vitamin B3 (niacin) may help to reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms in people who get intermittent claudation. Intermittent claudation is a problem with circulation and it makes the legs ache and calf muscles cramp when walking. The reason for this is that the leg muscles are not getting enough oxygen due to poor blood circulation. Vitamin B3 (niacin) makes the blood vessels widen, which brings more blood to the legs and helps with normalising blood circulation - Vitamin B3 may protect against cancer
Many studies have suggested that vitamin B3 (niacin) may be effective in neutralising several different types of carcinogenic substances, preventing them from causing mutation to the cells in the body and causing cancer. - Vitamin B3 is needed for a healthy nervous system
Vitamin B3 (niacin) is needed for a healthy functioning nervous system and brain. Research has shown that when there is a definite vitamin B3 (niacin) deficiency, it results in problems with memory, anxiety, confusion, depression, irritability and mood disorders, which are all related to an unhealthy nervous system. - Vitamin B3 may help with depression and anxiety disorders
The beneficial effects that vitaminB3 (niacin) have on the nervous system is one of the reasons why it is often used to treat people with depression and anxiety disorders. Studies confirm that vitaminB3 (niacin) can help to treat people that have depression and anxiety disorder, reducing symptoms and helping these people feel better.