Are You Getting Enough Riboflavin?

Are You Getting Enough Riboflavin?

Published: 3/19/2013

Vitamin B2, also called riboflavin, is a water-soluble vitamin present in most animal and plant tissues. It is one of the essential B vitamins, a family of compounds which help support adrenal function, calm and maintain a healthy nervous system, and facilitate key metabolic processes, including the conversion of food into energy. Riboflavin has many functions:

1. It is necessary for energy production and normal cell function and growth
2. It is crucial in helping folate and vitamin B6 undergo the chemical changes that make them available for the body's use
3. Emerging research shows that riboflavin can act as an antioxidant, potentially helping to prevent cancer and slow cholesterol buildup by controlling the proliferation of harmful molecules known as free radicals

Dietary sources of riboflavin include dairy products (such as milk, cheese and yogurt), eggs, enriched or fortified cereals and grains, meats, liver, dark greens (such as asparagus, broccoli, spinach and turnip greens), fish, poultry, and buckwheat. Keep in mind that riboflavin is easily destroyed by exposure to light, so buy milk and yogurt in paper cartons or containers. Along with these food sources, Dr. Weil recommends 50 mg of riboflavin as part of a B-50 complex in a daily multivitamin.

Source: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP04754/Are-You-Getting-Enough-Riboflavin.html