Pantothenic acid- Vitamin B5
A Closer Look @ Supplements
Here's a quick thought exercise: If you knew of an all-natural pill that would help reduce your stress levels, would you order a lifetime supply of it? Well, actually, you’re in luck. Pantothenic acid plays a crucial, essential and important part in your body’s ability to produce the stress hormone. Therefore, a lack of this supplement might be one cause of depression or anxiety in many individuals. So what else can this seemingly amazing little supplement do for your body and health? Read on to find out more...
What is Pantothenic Acid
Stemming from the Greek root word pantos, meaning "everywhere," Pantothenic acid is abundant in the American food supply, especially in fish, legumes, organ meats, whole grains and yogurt. Although if you buy most of these foods pre-processed, their Pantothenic acid content will be significantly reduced. Whole grain products contain 50% less Pantothenic acid than the unprocessed whole grains, and legumes (beans) lose 80% of this nutrient when they’re canned. What’s the best way to get a healthy daily intake of Pantothenic acid? Eat fresh!
How does Pantothenic Acid work?
Also known as vitamin B5, Pantothenic acid assists the other B-complex vitamins in converting food into usable energy. It is also an essential part of the body’s ability to produce various enzymes, which act as the catalyst to numerous biochemical reactions in the body. Beyond these basic needs, Pantothenic acid also helps support the central nervous system by preserving communication lines between the nervous system (nerves) and the brain.
Pantothenic acid may also prove to be beneficial for dealing with allergies, chronic fatigue syndrome, heartburn, migraines, and stress. Pantothenic acid is an essential part of the body’s ability to produce stress hormone, and it is believed that when a person becomes overstressed and thus overproduces stress hormones, the body becomes depleted of this vitamin and its stores must be replenished. Depression and anxiety are two forms of stress that increase the need for Pantothenic acid, so if you are experiencing any symptoms of stress, it is important that you take a daily multivitamin that includes vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid). Stress is also a common factor in life-changing events, even the little ones, such as trying to stop smoking. Migraines and chronic fatigue also trigger high levels of stress hormones, meaning that extra supplementation is also needed.>
Combining Pantothenic acid with choline and thiamin, two other B vitamins, may prove a helpful treatment for heartburn, by acting on the central nervous system to maintain the digestive process. Pantothenic acid can also act as a decongestant, helping to unclog nasal congestion, during the allergic response.
How can I make the most of Pantothenic Acid?
There is no RDA for Pantothenic acid, which is readily supplied in the foods we eat every day. In fact, Pantothenic acid is found is so many foods that deficiency is extremely rare. Experts recommend that you obtain between 4 and 7 mg of this vitamin every day. Toxicity reports are rare, but people who took a 10 gram dosage complained of diarrhea. You should be able to obtain plenty Pantothenic acid from diet or a multivitamin source.
