B-Minus - B complex - 100 capsules

B-Minus - B Complex by Seeking Health

The B-Minus vitamin B complex by Seeking Health is a pure supplement consisting of the B vitamins thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), vitamin B6, pantothenic acid (B5) and biotin (B7). The blend is free of the vitamins B9 (folate) and B12 and is therefore ideal for those who have difficulty tolerating methylated B vitamins. Because these have deliberately not been added to this complex, you have the option of adding non-methylated or other preferred forms of vitamins B9 and B12 to your daily routine at your own discretion and preference. The complex is also free from all common allergens and from artificial colours and flavourings, and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

B vitamins under the microscope

B vitamins work together as a complex and depend on each other to carry out their individual tasks properly. That is why they are often combined as a group in a supplement, as in this B-Minus - B Complex by Seeking Health. Each B vitamin has specific characteristics for which it is known. Niacin (B3), for example, helps to release energy from food, supports normal skin and is important for the nervous system. Thiamine (B1) contributes to energy-yielding metabolism, and riboflavin (B2) protects cells, nourishes the skin from within, is good for the mucous membranes and activates your natural energy in the body. Pantothenic acid (B5) supports the other B vitamins in releasing energy from food, and the active form of vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P), supports the immune system, helps with tiredness and supports energy metabolism. Finally, biotin (B7) is important for the skin and for the condition of the hair, contributes to normal fat and carbohydrate metabolism and supports energy levels.

Evolution of epigenetics

Epigenetics is a science that has been changing and evolving considerably in recent years. We are increasingly realising that DNA, or our genetic make-up, does not pull all the strings, but that it is ‘epigenomes’ that actually control DNA by switching certain genes ‘on’ or ‘off’. So although we can map our entire DNA, we are still far from the finish line. After all, our DNA can be compared to a computer, where it depends on the software (the epigenomes) how the computer is used. The most important epigenetic processes in our body are methylation processes, in particular DNA methylation. A great deal of research is currently being done into the influence of diet and lifestyle on our epigenomes and to what extent this influence can also be passed on to future generations. The science of epigenetics therefore studies changes in gene expression that do not, however, bring about changes in the DNA sequence itself.

Benefits

• Pure vitamin B complex based on the B vitamins thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), vitamin B6, pantothenic acid (B5) and biotin (B7)
• Free of vitamin B9 (folate) and B12 for more control and flexibility when adapting the dosage to your routine
• Riboflavin (B2) protects cells, nourishes the skin from within, is good for the mucous membranes and activates your natural energy in the body
• Niacin (B3) helps to release energy from food, supports normal skin and is important for the nervous system
• Biotin (B7) is important for the skin and for the condition of the hair, contributes to normal fat and carbohydrate metabolism and supports energy levels
• Free from milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, nuts, wheat, soya, gluten, GMOs and artificial colours and flavourings

The process of methylation

Every minute, trillions of methylation processes take place in all the cells of our body, which in turn affect thousands of bodily processes. Methylation is a controlled transfer of a methyl group, mainly to proteins, amino acids, enzymes and DNA, and among other things the process ensures the maintenance and repair of our DNA in all our cells and tissues. Certain substances that are able to donate a methyl group are called methyl donors. B vitamins, vitamin C, biotin, zinc, folic acid and betaine, among others, can act as methyl donors. Methyl groups play an important role in gene expression, as they help to facilitate the on and off switches of our DNA. It is no coincidence that they are among the most researched molecules in epigenetics. Research suggests that methylation responds to environmental factors and decreases as we age. This has made the relationship between health and the ability to methylate a popular field of research.

Epigenetics & Seeking Health

Epigenetics refers to the countless factors that influence our gene expression. The name epigenetics was coined in 1942 by biologist Conrad Waddington and literally means ‘around the DNA’, referring to the markers around the DNA that can switch genes on and off. The idea behind it is that the experiences, living conditions and diet of an organism have a major influence on its hereditary make-up. For Dr Ben Lynch, epigenetics stands for the power of our genes and for the fact that we do not have to submit to our DNA, but can work together with our genes and only need to know how to shape this cooperation. Lynch's method therefore aims to detect our DNA markers (also called SNPs or ‘single-nucleotide polymorphisms’) and to make them manageable with the help of supplements and adjustments to diet and lifestyle, so as to ‘clean up dirty genes’, in Lynch's words.

About Seeking Health

From an early age, Dr Ben Lynch, founder of Seeking Health, has been interested in the relationship between health and gene expression, and he studied naturopathy, molecular biology and epigenetics, among other subjects. In his recent book Dirty Genes, he describes how the cause of countless health problems can lie in having ‘dirty’ genes, and he shows how you can optimise the functioning of your genes through the right diet and lifestyle. In recent years he has helped thousands of clients, doctors and healthcare professionals apply these insights, and he is currently the most consulted expert in the field of epigenetics.

* B vitamins, including vitamins B1, B3, B5 and B7, are good for memory, provide mental energy and promote energy metabolism