MedlinePlus, a part of the National Institutes of Health’s U.S. National Library of Medicine, lists the various B vitamins as:
* B1 (also known as thiamine)
* B2 (sometimes named riboflavin)
* B3 (often labeled as niacin)
* B5 (pantothenic acid)
* B6
* B7 (biotin)
* B12
* Folic acid
If you’ve ever perused the vitamins and supplements aisle of your local health foods store in Draper, you may have wondered if all of these vitamins are necessary. They’re all B vitamins, right? So what’s the difference?
The Benefits of B Vitamins
B vitamins are primarily important for converting the foods we eat into energy that our bodies can use. Additionally, B vitamins help to create red blood cells, one of our blood’s primary components and the cells responsible for delivering oxygen to our bodies. A deficiency in one or more of the B vitamins listed above can result in certain diseases, symptoms, or health complications.
Why They’re Each Important
Each of the B vitamins performs its unique functions within the body. Just because these vitamins are in the same class doesn’t mean that an abundance of one can cover for the lack of another! A deficiency in any one of these B vitamins can lead to health problems, so it is important to pay attention to all—not just a few—of them.
While it is theoretically possible to obtain all the B vitamins needed from a balanced diet, the fact of the matter is that most people do not consume a truly balanced diet. In a world where many meals are processed, filled with sugar, or grabbed quickly on the go from fast food restaurants, it is becoming more and more difficult to attain a truly “balanced” diet full of the vitamins and supplements your body needs. This is why health food stores in Draper commit themselves to providing a wide variety of vitamins to supplement your diet.