A Critical Vitamin Deficiency That Imitates Other Illnesses
When it comes to B vitamins, the chances of having a deficiency are high, especially if you have poor eating habits. However, there is a deficiency that is a great mimicker of diseases because it can be misdiagnosed or overlooked. This is a vitamin B1 deficiency but how can one prevent it?
The fact is, if you’re diabetic, have insulin resistance, drink alcohol steadily, and have a high-carbohydrate diet, then you’re most likely to have a vitamin B1 deficiency. Firstly, what does vitamin B1 do in the body?
Functions of Vitamin B1 in the Body
Vitamin B1 is essential for enzyme function and provides energy for the body through the carbohydrates you eat. It protects the cell against oxidative damage and assists in the proper functioning of the nervous system. This vitamin also improves mood and supports cardiovascular function. Vitamin B1 helps with the development of the myelin sheath, a structure that wraps around nerves to protect them from damage. Thus, it helps prevent neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
How Vitamin B1 Deficiency Imitates Other Conditions
- Enlarged heart: This is one of the severe manifestations of vitamin B1 deficiency involving the cardiovascular system. A deficiency in vitamin B1 can lead to a widening of the blood vessels, causing a decrease in blood pressure. This makes the heart work harder and longer to pump blood to certain tissues of the body. Consequently, this causes overuse injuries to the heart, causing heart failure and an enlarged heart.
- Edema in the lower ankles: Once the heart is not able to pump blood and bring back blood to the heart, this leads to a loss of fluid from the blood vessels. These fluids enter the interstitial spaces (i.e., the spaces that lie between the blood vessels and the cells), leading to peripheral edema. This is swollen legs and ankles, which can be mistaken for liver or kidney failure.
- Slow digestion: Deficiency in B1 can create low stomach acidity and cause slow digestion, acid reflux, and constipation.
- Nerve damage: Vitamin B1 is critically involved in the proper functioning of the nerves as it is involved in the formation of the myelin sheath. Hence, a deficiency in this vitamin can cause nerve damage, which can trigger a variety of neurological conditions.
- Excessive sweating: This is one of the causes of heat intolerance, which can result from a deficiency in vitamin B1. Did you know that the more carbohydrates you eat, the more deficient in vitamin B1 you will most likely be? This is because high-carb diets rich in sugars require a high amount of thiamine for their metabolism. This overtime, can lead to thiamine depletion (this is one of the reasons a lot of fat people sweat profusely). Excessive sweating can be mistaken for thyroid issues or even diabetes.
- Brain damage: Vitamin B1 deficiency can cause a potentially fatal brain disorder called Wernicke encephalopathy. The symptoms include confusion, hallucinations, loss of muscle coordination, and problems with vision. If left untreated, this condition can lead to irreversible brain damage and death.
How You Can Prevent Vitamin B1 Deficiency
The best way to prevent vitamin B1 deficiency is to eat foods like beef liver, brown rice, whole grains, etc. However, some cooking processes can deplete vitamin B1 (as it’s a water-soluble vitamin). Thus, to prevent vitamin B1 deficiency, supplementing with NATURE’SFIELD VITAMIN B1 will help maintain the health of your nervous system, heart, and brain functions.
Preventing a deficiency is way better than dealing with the consequences of the deficiency. Therefore, avoid the risk of vitamin B1 deficiency with NATURE’SFIELD VITAMIN B1 and restore thiamine-dependent functions to your body as soon as possible.