Consuming the right amount of vitamins and nutrients on daily basis can be tremendously beneficial to your workout performance. Because the “vitamin world” can be overwhelming, we made a list of three B-Vitamins that will fuel your body to power through your workouts.
First things first, what is a B Vitamin?
B vitamins are co-enzymes that our bodies use in proportion to the amount of energy burned during our workouts. B vitamins also help our bodies produce energy from the nutrients we consume daily.
“B Vitamins are a great source of pre and/or post workout aid.
The B complex assists in the breakdown of excess folic acid within the body which
helps with faster muscle recovery, and prevents dehydration and fatigue.”
Donald Leaper, Certified Nutritionist, Dietitian, NASAM and NSSA, and Movement Specialist
3 B-Vitamins to Help Improve Your Workout:
VITAMIN B3 helps the digestive system, skin and nerves to function properly. B3 also supports cellular energy production and help boost the good cholesterol (HDL). Vitamin B3 also act as a multivitamin aid.
B3-packed foods: beef, poultry, fish, legumes, nuts, eggs, beans and green vegetables.
VITAMIN B6 has the important role of keeping numerous bodily functions operating at their highest level.
Vitamin B6 helps our bodies metabolize amino acids from our food, build new red blood cells and it aids our mood and sleep patterns because it boosts our bodies to produce serotonin, melatonin and norepinephrine.
In addition, vitamin B6 also helps with muscle recovery process.
B6-packed foods: meat, poultry, eggs, fish, bananas, berries, peaches, carrots, spinach, sunflower seeds and brown rice.
VITAMIN B12 helps regulate and maintain a healthy central nervous and cardiovascular system. Vitamin B12 can bring positive benefits to your mood, energy level, memory, heart, skin, hair and digestion.
B12-packed foods: mostly found in animal source foods such as chicken, beef, fish, and pork. Side note: vegetarians and vegans might need to take a B12 supplement since vitamin B12 is not naturally found in plant foods.
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Reference: Donald Leaper, Certified Nutritionist, Dietitian, NASAM and NSSA, and Movement Specialist