By Terrance Franklin


The storyline behind the invention of vitamin b is a cautionary saga to every would-be prepper expecting to live for a long time on their trusty crate of ramen noodles, and one of the great mysteries of modern research. It all started from the case of sailors in the Japanese Navy who were dying on long expeditions on the ocean. Beriberi was the name of the disease, and along with it emerged the symptoms of tremor, paralysis and eventually death.

Why B vitamins are part of your crucial emergency supplies

B vitamins are important to many different functions within the body associated with metabolic process and cell development. This includes various things such as maintaining muscle mass, to performing immune system functions, to stabilizing the nervous system. Without having B Vitamins, muscles will die, nerves will fade and the person will ultimately die. This is exactly what was taking place on the Japanese ships.

A theory was developed by two medical professionals, Christiaan Eijkman and Sir Frederick Hopkins, who mentioned that the illness was caused by a deficiency in the diet. The seamen who had been most susceptible to beriberi were those of the lower ranks who were subsisting mainly on white rice. Officers who took in a better diet were way less prone to the condition. Through testing on chicken populations with brown rice (keeping the husk) rather than refined white rice, Eijkmann managed to decrease the occurrence of beriberi in chickens substantially. Hopkins discovered that there were 'accessory factors' together with proteins, carbohydrates and fats identified during the time that contributed to human health. These accessory factors evolved into what we know today as vitamins and Eijkman and Hopkins were honored the 1929 Nobel Prize in Medicine for their breakthrough.

Different sources, numerous forms

B Vitamins were actually termed as a single vitamin due to their coexistence in many food items. It was only after the growth of organic chemistry and imaging that scientists could identify a variety of molecules which gave these types of food their fortifying properties. These days, there are 8 widely acknowledged B vitamins B1, B2,B3,B5,B6,B7,B9, as well as B12.

The ideal way to supplement B vitamins, in home and in the field

B vitamins are usually water soluble, which has bad and good significance. The great news is that it is almost impossible to have a dose of B vitamins which is too high, excess vitamins are flushed out in urine. If you have ever taken a multivitamin pill and observed the color of your urine change, that's because of B vitamins.

The not so great news is that B vitamins must be consumed very regularly because the body cannot store them in body fat. This means that B vitamins should be worked into the diet. As the investigation of Eijkman suggested, polished grains such as white rice have many of the vitamins removed in the polishing procedure. Usually, the closer a plant is to it's all-natural form the more vitamins it will have, which is true with B vitamins like it is with anything else. The most effective plant sources of Vitamin B comprise of asparagus, broccoli, spinach, beans as well as nuts.

But, plants must not be depended upon as the sole supply of B vitamins. B12 is only available in animal sources and lots of vegetarians have problems with B12 insufficiency. Nearly any supply of meat has the full spectrum of B vitamins, which includes B12.

So what does this imply for you, modern prepper? Do not plan your survival around a sparse diet of simple to store, refined grains. If you do, make sure to supplement with meat, the vegetables stated earlier, or vitamin supplements. B vitamin supplements are quite easy to store and will keep you alive, strong as well as energetic in a post apocalyptic world. Don't leave the house without them!




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment