Total Pageviews

Monday 13 November 2023

B Vitamins - Fifteen Good Food Sources

Foods High in B Vitamins


Marsha McCulloch MS RD writes
"There are eight B vitamins — collectively called B complex vitamins. They are thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), biotin (B7), folate (B9) and cobalamin (B12). Though each of these vitamins has unique functions, they generally help your body produce energy and make important molecules in your cells. Aside from B12, your body cannot store these vitamins for long periods, so you have to replenish them regularly through food. Many foods provide B vitamins, but to be considered high in a vitamin, a food must contain at least 20% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) per serving. Alternatively, a food that contains 10–19% of the RDI is considered a good source.

Here are 15 healthy foods high in one or more B vitamins
1. Salmon, is high in riboflavin, niacin, B6 and B12, as well as a good source of thiamine and pantothenic acid. Additionally, it’s low in mercury and high in omega-3 fats and protein.

2. Leafy greens, especially spinach, collards, turnip greens and romaine lettuce, are among the best vegetable sources of folate. Enjoy them raw or steam them briefly to retain the most folate.

3. Organ meats — particularly liver — are high in most B vitamins. To make liver more palatable, grind it with common cuts of meat or use it in highly seasoned food.

4. Eggs, are a top source of biotin, second only to liver. They supply 1/3 of the RDI for biotin per one whole, cooked egg.

5. Milk, and other dairy products pack about a third of your daily riboflavin requirement in just 1 cup (240 ml). Milk is also a good source of well-absorbed B12.

6. Beef, boasts high amounts of B3, B6 and B12. A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving supplies about a third of the RDI for each of these vitamins, in addition to smaller amounts of other B vitamins.

7. Oysters, clams and mussels, each supply at least four times the RDI for vitamin B12 per serving. They’re also high in riboflavin and provide smaller amounts of thiamine, niacin and folate.

8. Legumes, such as pinto beans, black beans and lentils are high in folate, a B vitamin important for reducing the risk of certain birth defects.

9. Chicken and turkey, especially the white meat portions, are high in B3 and B6. Poultry also supplies smaller amounts of riboflavin, pantothenic acid and cobalamin. Most of the nutrients are in the meat, not the skin.

10. Yogurt, is naturally high in B2 and B12, but non-dairy yogurt alternatives aren’t good sources of these vitamins unless they’re fortified. Limit your intake of sugar-sweetened yogurt.

11. Nutritional yeast and brewer’s yeast, pack a high amount of B vitamins — but a significant portion of the vitamins in nutritional yeast, including B12, are added. These products can be used to add flavour or nutrients to other foods.

12. Pork, is especially high in thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and B6. Pork loin cuts are much leaner and lower in calories than shoulder cuts, spareribs and bacon.

13. Breakfast cereals, often have added thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, B6 and B12. Some contain up to 100% of the RDI for these vitamins. Still, it’s important to choose cereals made with whole grains and minimal sugar. *

14. Trout, is high in thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid and vitamin B12. It also contains ample protein and omega-3 fats.

15. Sunflower seeds, and their butter are among the highest plant sources of pantothenic acid, a B vitamin found only in small amounts in most foods.

The Bottom Line
Consuming adequate amounts of the eight B complex vitamins puts you on the path to a healthy diet. Some top sources of B vitamins include meat (especially liver), seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, legumes, leafy greens, seeds and fortified foods, such as breakfast cereal and nutritional yeast. If you restrict your intake from some food groups due to allergies or diet, your chances of B vitamin deficiencies may increase."
The above is only a snippet of Marsha's article.
You can read it in full, with related links, here

Low Carb Breakfast Cereals*
For so many of us the 'go to' breakfast does seem to be cereal. But the highly coloured packaged varieties you see on supermarket shelves do contain a high amount of carbs and sugar, so you may wish to consider a lower carb version. Here are three for you to have a look at, see what you think here

Articles / studies within this blog are provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, including medication, you should contact your Doctor/local health care provider.

Related Post
Eat your Greens - they are so healthy - read more here

Dear reader, you will find a variety of articles and recipes within this blog, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health it is always advisable to consult your Doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan

26 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

I am pretty good on the plant based foods - but don't eat meat so fail there.

Kay said...

I did ask my doctor whether I should take B12 supplements and he did tell me that I was probably already getting it from my diet.

Tom said...

...B well.

J.P. Alexander said...

Siempre es bueno consumir vitamina b. Te mando un beso.

Lee said...

I'd be lost without milk! It's a must-have for me! :)

Christine said...

Thanks for this information

dellgirl said...

This is interesting, and also very informative. I love this post, thank you for sharing this helpful information. Wishing you all the best, have a great week!

Linda said...

It’s great to get your vitamins from food. I haven’t seen trout in the stores in a while. I need to find out who carries it.

Margaret D said...

Interesting Jan.
We were only talking about Vit. D this weekend with my cousin who was staying with her husband at our house.

Lorrie said...

There are a few things on the list that I don't eat like organ meats and oysters, but the others find their way into our diet regularly.

Rustic Pumpkin said...

What about Marmite?

Nutritional yeast flakes are good and give a cheesy flavour sprinkled on pasta if trying to reduce cheese intake.

eileeninmd said...

Thanks for the info, it is great list!
Take care, have a wonderful week!

Jeanie said...

Thanks for this list -- I recently started a B12 supplement because I was low. It's good to know some more natural ways to increase it.

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

Thank you for this informative post. With all the fast food we eat, it's good to take inventory and make sure we are getting some good nutrients as well. I do try to eat leafy greens everyday.

R's Rue said...

I love salmon.
www.rsrue.blogspot.com

Valerie-Jael said...

Vitamins are important. Today I had feta cheese and spinach baked in pastry, lovely! Valerie

Conniecrafter said...

I should be good on my B vitamins I think I hit almost everything on the list but the seafood

Bill said...

Thanks for sharing!

Food Blogger said...

We have vegetables growing and we get all the vitamins from eating fresh home-grown veges and fruit.

Hena Tayeb said...

Thankfully I eat almost all of these. Though I do prefer kidney over liver.

Divers and Sundry said...

I regularly eat 7 of these. I should pick another couple or so to add. Thanks!

happyone said...

Lots of good choices food choices here.

Lowcarb team member said...

REPLY TO RUSTIC PUMPKIN

Who asked 'What about Marmite?'

Hello and thanks for your question and comment.

Yes, Marmite is rich in B vitamins including thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), and folic acid (B9). Vitamin B12 is only available through artificial enrichment; riboflavin and folic acid are added on top of the naturally-occurring amount.

The sodium content of the spread is high and has caused concern, although it is the amount per serving rather than the percentage in bulk Marmite that is relevant.

The main ingredient of Marmite is yeast extract, which contains a high concentration of glutamic acid. Marmite is not gluten-free, as it is made with wheat, and although it is thoroughly washed, it may contain small quantities of gluten.

Marmite should be avoided if a person takes a MAOI antidepressant, such as phenelzine (Nardil) or tranylcypromine (Parnate), as yeast extracts interact adversely with these types of medications due to their tyramine content.

Read more about Marmite here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmite

All the best Jan

Rustic Pumpkin said...

Thank you, Jan, for replying about the marmite. It's interesting you mentioned it interacting with medication, which might now explain why my friend's husband, who has MS, was advised to stop taking Marmite, which he loved.

William Kendall said...

No to the seafood, as there are other options.

Teresa said...

Como de todo ello, menos las ostras. Feliz fin de semana.