Vitamin B6: Everything You Need to Know

Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin and is an essential nutrient for the body. It helps with just about every function in your body and keep everything running smoothly. From lifting your mood and making you feel happier to supporting your liver and nervous system, vitamin B6 is a powerhouse.

In this article we will explore what vitamin B6 is, why it is important, the benefits of the vitamin, and the best sources to get more B6 into your daily diet.

What is Vitamin B6 and Why is it Important?

B6 is part of the B vitamin family, a large group of vitamins that all do similar things for the body. B vitamins are all great for keeping a healthy metabolism, supporting the liver, and benefiting the skin and the eyes.

Vitamin B6 is so essential for your body because your body uses this vitamin on a daily basis. Your body needs B6 to keep functioning properly, so ensuring you are getting enough of this vitamin in your diet is critical. B6 aids the body with blood flow, brain function, and how efficiently your body expends energy.

Furthermore, B6 supports your nervous system by carrying oxygen in your red blood cells throughout your body. It will also help boost your immune system, so you can stay as strong and healthy as possible. If you want your brain to function to its full capacity, you also need the right levels of B6. It will help keep your memory sharp on a daily basis while also helping to boost your mood. This vitamin is especially important if your supper from depression, anxiety, and the like.

Overall, B6 keeps your entire body healthy, strong, and functioning properly. If you have a vitamin B6 deficiency, you are likely to experience the negative affects f low B6 levels.

What are the Benefits of B6?

Now that we know what B6 is and why this powerful vitamin is so important, exactly what are the benefits of taking a B6 supplement or eating more foods with B6? Below are some of the ways B6 benefits your body even more.

• Promotes healthy blood vessels
• Keeps the brain healthy
• Boosts your mood
• Keeps eyes healthy
• Lowers blood pressure
• Reduces symptoms of PMS
• Can help with nausea and morning sickness
• Helps you sleep better
• Prevents kidney stones
• Supports a healthy baby during pregnancy
• Can help prevent certain types of cancer

Best Sources of Vitamin B6

B3 is proven to lower your triglyceride levels, boost HDL cholesterol (which is the good form of cholesterol,) and reduce oxidative stress and inflammation around the heart and body.

Fights Arthritis

Getting more B6 can either be done with a supplement or with food. However, when you are looking to increase certain vitamins in your diet, you are always better off getting them from food sources.

This is because vitamins from food are absorbed much easier by your body compared to supplements. Food sources also contain other vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fiber, which are important for your body as well. A supplement will not provide you will those additional benefits. Many supplements also contain artificial dyes, flavors, fillers, and chemicals that are not friendly to your body.

Some of the best sources for B6 from food as are follows:

• Chickpeas
• Beef liver
• Yellowfin tuna
• Wild salmon
• Ground beef
• Chicken breast
• Turkey
• Bananas
• Potatoes
• Cottage cheese
• Winter squash
• Mixed nuts
• Raisins
• Onions
• Spinach
• Tofu
• Watermelon

Each of these foods contain higher levels of vitamin B6 compared to other kinds of food. These foods are easy to include in your daily diet and easily found at supermarkets all across the world. The foods can be eaten on their own or thrown into smoothies, salads, or simple lunch and dinner dishes like soups, stews, and baked sheet pan meals.