"vitamin b" news and stories

Steak salad. Photo: Jennifer Iserloh

OK, I'll admit, I'm a fan of the HBO series "True Blood," but not for the reason most fans like it -- the sexy drama, gorgeous vampires and loads of gore. Watching it is a real break from cooking -- the mental and physical side. After all, you can't cook for a vampire!

I was recently thinking back to an episode when Bill Compton had his first bite with Sookie, cautioning her to take an extra dose of B vitamins. Well, I think that's good advice for all of us, because B vitamins -- especially B-12 -- support the production of red blood cells and prevent anemia.

If you're vegetarian or happen to have type 2 diabetes, you're probably not getting enough, but there's good news: You can get it from yogurt and milk, about four servings a day to get good levels of B12. If you are carnivorous like our friend Bill Compton, then your best sources are calf's liver, snapper, venison, scallops and shrimp -- or even a piece of beef tenderloin, one of my favorite cuts of beef -- and it's even low in fat.

In the US, Canada and Chile (and I beleive soon in the UK) folic acid is added to bread-making flour under satutory regulation. Australia and New Zealand look likly to follow as the joint countires food regulator has asked for feedback on the proposal.

Each year, 300 to 350 pregnancies in Australia and around 70 in New Zealand are affected by neural tube defects. Women who are deficient in folic acid have been shown to have a higher risk of having a child with these defects. The addition of Vitamnin B (folic acid) will reduce these numbers significantly it has been suggested.

Although bread has been put forward as the most common food item ate by women of child bearing age the regulator has asked if the addition should be spread across more foods, including milk and yoghurt.

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Hungry Girl has a quick and easy to read rundown of the properties of Vitamins A through K, complete with information about what each vitamin is, what it does and where to get it.

For example, Vitamin A is primarily found in brightly colored fruits and vegetables, while Vitamin D is in fish, like salmon and tuna, and can also be gotten from spending time in the sun. Vitamin B mostly comes from animal-based sources, but can also be found in whole grains and green, leafy vegetables. Citrus fruits will provide plenty of Vitamin C, which can help fight colds and other illnesses. Vitamin E boosts your immune system, while K regulates blood clotting. For a full listing of all you need to know about these vitamins, check out Hungry Girl's list.

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