Feeling Energized Again with the Anti-Fatigue Program
More than 20% of Americans deal with fatigue. The good news is that there are nutrients that can help!
Tag: fatigue
Your Eye Doctor Needs To Know This Supplement – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 529
If you spend your days staring at phone, TV or computer screens, you need to know about what supplements can benefit your eye health, and your eye doctor should, too.
The Importance of Vitamin B6 – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 523
Vitamin B6
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Please see below for a complete transcript of this episode.
The Importance of Vitamin B6 – InViteⓇ Health Podcast, Episode 523
Hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH
*Intro music*
InViteⓇ Health Podcast Intro: Welcome to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast, where our degreed healthcare professionals are excited to offer you the most important health and wellness information you need to make informed choices about your health. You can learn more about the products discussed in each of these episodes and all that InViteⓇ Health has to offer at www.invitehealth.com/podcast. First time customers can use promo code PODCAST at checkout for an additional 15% off your first purchase. Let’s get started!
*Intro music*
Amanda Williams, MPH:
[00:00:40] I recently talked about the importance of B-complex and the 11 different B-vitamins. Today, I want to talk specifically about Vitamin B6 because oftentimes people will ask, “Do I need to take individual B-vitamins?” And the answer to that is sometimes yes. Sometimes, your body may require a specific B-vitamin in a higher amount, depending upon what your health needs or your health concerns may be. So I want to talk about what Vitamin B6 is and its function in the body. I’m Amanda Williams, MD, MPH, Scientific Director at InViteⓇ Health.† [00:01:19]
B-COMPLEX EXPLAINED – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 518. Listen Now>>
[00:01:20] So Vitamin B6 also goes by the name of pyridoxine, and we certainly understand that when we’re looking at individual B-vitamins, they all have critical roles in our everyday functionality. So we think about just the immune system, for example. We know that those B-vitamins are critical to the way that our immunity is actually working. So when we look at the functions of Vitamin B6 specifically in the body, we can recognize that it’s very important when it comes to detoxifying chemicals that are in our system. We can recognize that it’s very involved in strengthening our connective tissue, so when we think about our skin, when we think about our vascular system. We know that when it comes to the synthesis of different neurotransmitters, including things like serotonin, which we always consider to be our happy neurotransmitter, this is where Vitamin B6 is quite critical to this. We have to have adequate B6 in order for tryptophan to convert into serotonin. So for those who maybe suffer with issues such as low mood or depression, you can always look towards adding in some Vitamin B6 to see if this will better support your body’s ability to make or produce more serotonin. We know that when it comes to our sleep cycle to hit REM, that very important stage of sleep, we are going to require Vitamin B6. And this makes sense when you look at that conversion of tryptophan to serotonin and then we know from there we go to melatonin, so we can start to tie all of these pieces together.† [00:03:10]
[00:03:11] But when it comes to cholesterol, we recognize that Vitamin B6 also is very important. And when it comes to the absorption of fats and proteins in the body. When we think about our GI system and the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach in order to help break down the foods that we are taking in and for that maintaining of the proper acid-base balance. We know that we need to have this when it comes to different amino acids and the amino groups in the body. So when it comes to the metabolism of amino acids, we know those are those building blocks of proteins in the body. We know that when we think about the methylation pathways, I kind of go back to detoxification. So if someone has inadequate detoxification occurring in the body, we can in a sense become toxic over time. So we even see this in the vascular system in particular with elevated levels of homocysteine. We know that when homocysteine is high in our body, it shows that our vascular system is overreactive or it’s inflamed. That is a big problem. We don’t want to have vascular inflammation, and homocysteine is definitely a key indicator to that. So what should you be doing? Well, if you have high levels of homocysteine, certainly we need to be incorporating Vitamin B6 along with folate and B12, as well as N-acetyl cysteine. So we know that there are many different functions when it comes to Vitamin B6.† [00:04:55]
[00:04:56] Now, if someone has low levels of Vitamin B6. Some of the things that you may experience, perhaps you’re a little bit more on edge or irritable. Maybe you do have depression. Maybe you feel a little nervous. It’s possible that you have some little irritations even within your mouth area. We know that when it comes to lesions around the mouth, Vitamin B6 is a common cause for this. We can look at just general fatigue and weakness. Numbness is another common thing because when we look at glycation, how it is that blood sugar can impact our nervous system, and B6 is integrally involved into this. We can look at disruptions in your sleep. Perhaps you have insomnia and you’re trying to figure out why this is. We can look at stress, we can look at diet, but we can also look at inadequate exposure to things like Vitamin B6. [00:05:57][61.2]
[00:05:58] Now, food source wise, the reason why most people are not technically deficient in B6… You may be insufficient, meaning you’re, you’re getting a little exposure, but maybe not what you actually need for B6 to do all of these different functions every day. Because when you look at the foods that contain Vitamin B6, it’s quite an extensive list. Now, where the problem comes in is many of the foods that have a high amount of Vitamin B6 fall into food categories that many Americans are just not obtaining on a regular basis. So if you’re following a Mediterranean diet, you’re probably well covered with your B6. But if you are adhering to more of a Standard American Diet, then the likelihood that you have Vitamin B6 insufficiency is pretty high because you look at some of the cruciferous vegetables. We know this is a wonderful source of Vitamin B6 when you think about cauliflower and cabbage for example. We can look at different fatty fish that we know have a good amount of Vitamin B6 in this. And once again, when you think about how most Americans eat, if you’re not eating things like walnuts, for example, or sunflower seeds, then you may not be getting an adequate exposure. So this certainly can be a significant problem over time.† [00:07:26]
[00:07:27] We also can recognize that there are many different medications that can create low levels of Vitamin B6, and they are kind of across the board when you look at the different classes of medications. You can look at a whole wide swath of antibiotics, from penicillin to fluoroquinolones to the tetracyclines. We know that birth control pills, oral contraceptives certainly can create this issue as well. You can see how different amphetamines many people are prescribed for, you know, ADD, they’re prescribed things like Adderall. Now that Adderall is an amphetamine, it’s speed, so that can potentially lower your Vitamin B6 level, which can certainly lead to problems.† [00:08:20]
[00:08:21] Now, being that Vitamin B6 is water soluble, this is why it’s important that we are getting adequate exposure on a regular basis. So you can look at many reasons as to why someone would want to be taking Vitamin B6 as a standalone vitamin. And we can look at issues such as depression. We can certainly look at issues when it comes to fertility. We can look at issues when it comes to skin health, such as eczema and psoriasis, any type of a dermatitis, because remember, we’re thinking about the connective tissue. So there are many different uses for Vitamin B6, and supplementation with B6 can certainly be very supportive when it comes to your cardiovascular health, when it comes to your neurological health. And thinking about that homocysteine, think about that detoxification. All of these things are critical to the way that our body functions each and every single day when we think about energy production in the body and our immune function. The ability for our cells to repair themselves, when we think about our DNA, for example, that mother board when it comes to the internal function of every cell in the body. So when we don’t have adequate b6, you can start to see why it is so incredibly problematic. So utilizing Vitamin B6 can do so many wonderful things for your system when it comes to regulating your sleep, when it comes to supporting healthy cholesterol, when it comes to the nerve health. And so for those who maybe have concerns with having elevated blood sugar, those who are, you know, diagnosed with diabetes or metabolic syndrome, having Vitamin B6 on board can certainly be incredibly helpful.† [00:10:24]
[00:10:25] Now, there was a study that was done over in Europe and it was published in the Endocrine Metabolism Immune Journal, where they talked about how Vitamin B6 had antihyperlipidemic, which means if you have high cholesterol and you took B6, the B6 helped to lower that cholesterol. But they also were able to show how Vitamin B6 helped to protect the liver. So it was a really interesting study the way that they designed this. And they were looking at how the effect of dietary supplementation with Vitamin B6, this essential cofactor for all of these different enzymes that participate in your cholesterol metabolism, how when you take Vitamin B6, this helped in terms of activating the way that cholesterol is transported. And at the end of the day, it really helped to support a healthier cholesterol profile.† [00:11:21]
[00:11:22] So many different uses when it comes to Vitamin B6. If you’re not exactly sure if you are a candidate for taking Vitamin B6, and if you do take it, how much should you take, then I would certainly advise that you speak with one of our healthcare experts. Remember, they are there to help you help yourself navigate through this, and we understand that when it comes to supplementation, this can be incredibly overwhelming. So definitely take advantage of speaking to one of them. They can help guide you through this process and make sure that the nutrients you are taking are the most supportive for your overall wellness.† [00:12:01]
[00:12:02] So thank you so much for tuning in to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast. Remember, you can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting invitehealth.com/podcast. Now, do make sure that you subscribe and you leave us a review. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and we will see you next time for another episode of the InViteⓇ Health Podcast.† [00:12:02]
What Is Lupus? – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 522
Lupus is an autoimmune condition that is closely related to inflammation and low levels of Vitamin D. Learn more about this issue and what you can do to help from Amanda Williams, MD, MPH.
The Importance of Selenium – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 520
Selenium may be a micro mineral, but it is essential for important functions in the body such as immune defenses, heart health and more.
B-Complex Explained – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 518
B-complex
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Please see below for a complete transcript of this episode.
B-Complex Explained – InViteⓇ Health Podcast, Episode 518
Hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH
*Intro music*
InViteⓇ Health Podcast Intro: Welcome to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast, where our degreed healthcare professionals are excited to offer you the most important health and wellness information you need to make informed choices about your health. You can learn more about the products discussed in each of these episodes and all that InViteⓇ Health has to offer at www.invitehealth.com/podcast. First time customers can use promo code PODCAST at checkout for an additional 15% off your first purchase. Let’s get started!
*Intro music*
Amanda Williams, MPH:
[00:00:39] Getting to the basics of a B-complex. This is always a subject that comes up when people are trying to decide if they should do a single B-vitamin or if they should do a comprehensive B-complex. Depending upon what your health concerns are, generally speaking, utilizing a B-complex is going to be the first choice. Now you can still potentially need to add in additional, say, B12 on top of your B-complex. But for the most part, a B-complex should give you that coverage that perhaps you’re not getting from your foods. So I’m Amanda Williams, MD, MPH, and let’s talk about what a B-complex is in general.† [00:01:20]
[00:01:21] So we know that there’s 11 different vitamins that make up a B-complex. So those include Vitamin B1, which is thiamin. Vitamin B2, which is riboflavin. B3 is niacin. Then you have B5, which is pantothenic acid. We have B6, which is pyridoxine. B7 is biotin. We have B9, which is folic acid. B10, which is para-aminobenzoic acid. B12, which is cobalamin and then choline and inositol. So choline and inositol are really very unique in terms of what they do. So I just want to kind of do like a brief overview of each individual B-vitamin and for the most part, how they function in the body. Now, keep in mind, they all have multiple functions, so I’m just going to give you some of the the key ways to which these B-vitamins are utilized, which is why it would make sense to take a B-complex to make sure that we’re getting exposure to all of these Bs.† [00:02:23]
[00:02:24] So we know that B1, which is thiamin, this is involved in many different reactions in the body. So we know that it’s very important when it comes to the synthesis of acetylcholine, so for our memory. We certainly know it’s important when it comes to proper metabolism of thyroid hormones. We know it’s important for nerve function. So a reason why someone would maybe take additional B1 by itself, which would be in our Nerve HxⓇ formulation, would be if they had maybe some concerns with different neuropathies, for example. Or maybe they have, you know, a tendency to have high blood sugar levels, then taking additional B1 on top of the B-complex would be incredibly advantageous because we know that when someone has low B1, we can have issues with memory, we can have issues with, you know, that pins and needles feeling in the, in your fingers and your toes. Certainly fatigue. Mood disorders are oftentimes linked with Vitamin B1 insufficiencies or deficiencies.† [00:03:32]
NUTRIENTS FOR NERVE PAIN – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 35. Listen Now>>
[00:03:33] Then we move on to Vitamin B2, which is riboflavin. Now, riboflavin is highly involved in our body’s energy making processes, but we also recognize that we need to have Vitamin B2 when it comes to our immune system and for the production of antibodies. And when we think about tissue repair, we have to have it for the manufacturing or the regeneration of glutathione, which is one of our body’s most important antioxidants. So we see how B2 is used to catalyze different reactions when it comes to carbohydrate and fat and protein metabolism. Certainly very beneficial when it comes to liver health as well.† [00:04:15]
[00:04:16] Then we move on to Vitamin B3, which is niacin. Now niacin, this definitely has many different functions in the body that I think are highly overlooked, one of which is through the process of proper cholesterol transport. So for managing a healthy balance between your good cholesterol and your bad cholesterol and actually niacin is one of the only things out there that has a really innate ability to drive up or increase your good cholesterol. Now it’s really… A lot of doctors actually prescribe a prescription-based niacin because this is one of the one things that we know for sure about niacin is it can help to raise your good cholesterol. But we know that it’s important also for adrenal function. We certainly see how it can be beneficial when it comes to the manufacturing of tryptophan and serotonin, so we think about our mood, when we think about our sleep cycle. And certainly when we think about energy production, so we can see all of the different ways to which Vitamin B3 niacin is incredibly important.† [00:05:25]
[00:05:25] Then we move on to Vitamin B5, which is pantothenic acid, and we know that this is incredibly important when it comes to our immune system and the formation of antibodies when it comes to fatty acids in the body, how we actually move those fatty acids around so they can be made into energy. We can see how Vitamin B5 also really helps in terms of supporting our red blood cell production, as well as supporting our adrenal glands.† [00:05:57]
[00:05:58] So all of these little vitamins, they all have significant actions in the body and we don’t want to overlook them, which is why a B-complex containing all 11 of these B-vitamins is so very important, and we can see different reasons as to why someone, you know, could potentially have, you know, problems with not getting adequate exposure to these B-vitamins. Many of these B-vitamins are contained in foods that you find in the Mediterranean Diet. If you’re not, you know, if you’re having an ultra processed diet, you’re probably not getting much exposure to these very important B-vitamins.† [00:06:39]
[00:06:40] Now let’s move on to Vitamin B6. This is pyridoxine. Now pyridoxine, this is really quite interesting. This has many functions once again when we look at our sleep cycle, when we look at the production of hydrochloric acid within our gut, when we look at the transfer of different amino acid groups and the metabolism of amino acids. We know it’s highly important when it comes to the way that our body detoxifies, so through the methylation reactions for vascular support to make sure we don’t have inflammation occurring within our blood vessels. So we know that Vitamin B6, this is a big one when it comes to the neurotransmitter support, when it comes to the detoxification. Very, very important B-vitamin.† [00:07:29]
[00:07:30] And then we look at biotin. Now, many people think about biotin in the setting of, for our hair and our skin and our nails. And certainly we know that biotin, which is Vitamin B7, we know that this functions in our body to help to strengthen our nails. We know that it also works to enhance insulin sensitivity. We know that we require biotin when it comes to fatty acid synthesis. So we think about, once again, our mood, our energy levels, our skin health, our hair health, nervous system health and, once again, natural sources of biotin oftentimes are not included in a standard American diet, but certainly exposure to, you know, foods that are contained within a Mediterranean diet, you would get a better exposure because we’re looking at things like walnuts and pecans are really wonderful sources. Almonds, some of the cruciferous vegetables have a really nice source of biotin. But is it going to be enough? This is why taking a B-complex is always advantageous.† [00:08:41]
[00:08:43] Then we move on to folic acid, which is B9. We can see once again that folic acid plays a really important role when it comes to the way our body detoxifies. We know that we need to have folate for the synthesis of hemoglobin. Remember, we have to have hemoglobin for the transport of oxygen. We also know that when it comes to just our early development that folic acid plays a really key factor in the way that the central nervous system develops. We know that we need to have folic acid for the conversion of dopamine. So we’re looking at neurotransmitter production again. We’re looking at cardiovascular. We know it’s essential for the way that our cellular DNA is working.† [00:09:29]
[00:09:30] And then we take another step and we say B12. So now we’re moving down the the 11 B-vitamins in that B-complex. So Vitamin B12 is cobalamin, and we certainly know that most people associate B12 with energy, and we know that it’s clearly a regulator when it comes to DNA production in the body. We know it’s important in conjunction with folic acid when it comes to the detoxification pathways and energy production. And we can also see how it is required for red blood cell metabolism. It’s required for proper digestion. There’s a lot of different moving parts when it comes to B12. When we think about carnitine, the amino acid carnitine is highly reliant on B12 in terms for allowing the fatty acids to be generated into energy.† [00:10:31]
[00:10:33] So now we can start to see, yeah, we need these B-vitamins. These are pretty darn important. And then we add in the choline and the inositol. So this is what rounds out our complete B-complex. Choline is very key when we think about the making of acetylcholine, and acetylcholine is our primary neurotransmitter that’s involved with memory. We know that choline is essential for just normal brain function, for liver function. It aids in the metabolism of the fats that we take in and then we inositol. Now, this is really a unique B-vitamin as well. We know that inositol is very integral when it comes to its ability to create kind of a calming effect within the brain, but it’s also required for that cell to cell communication. So with our brain cells being able to communicate properly, then we get better and more effective release of those key neurotransmitters. So we can see why inositol oftentimes is utilized in traditional medicine when it comes to treatment for things like depression and panic disorders and anxiety. We know that we need to have inositol when it comes to the metabolism of our sex hormones. We know it’s key when it comes to the metabolism of fats throughout the body.† [00:11:59]
[00:12:00] So there are many different ways in which a B-complex is yielding us incredibly comprehensive support. So when people ask me, “Should I take a B-complex, like I’m already taking a multivitamin, should I also take a B-complex?” I always say knowing that out of those 11 B-vitamins, they have so many different responsibilities and actions to do in our body each and every single day, it would be incredibly advantageous to add in a B-complex to your daily routine. So you can look at our B-Complex 100 as a perfect example. So you’re getting all 11 of those essential B-vitamins to really support your mood and your energy and your overall wellness.† [00:12:44]
[00:12:45] So that is all that I have for you for today. I want to thank you so much for tuning into the InViteⓇ Health Podcast. Remember, you can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting invitehealth.com/podcast. Now, do make sure that you subscribe and you leave us a review. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and we will see you next time for another episode of the InViteⓇ Health Podcast.† [00:12:45]