The naval doctor and the rice
In 1884 the Japanese naval doctor Takaki Kanehiro had the crew of a training ship eat meat, fish and barley alongside white rice. On an earlier voyage almost half of the crew had fallen ill with beriberi; this time it hardly occurred. Only decades later did it become clear that a lack of vitamin B1 had been the cause.
Made in the United States
Seeking Health has B-Minus made in the United States according to GMP. The B vitamins come in a plant-based capsule, with B2 as riboflavin 5-phosphate and B6 as pyridoxal 5-phosphate. Half of the niacin comes from inositol hexanicotinate, a form that is less likely to cause a flush.
Facts about B vitamins
The name niacin was coined in 1942 as a contraction of nicotinic acid vitamin. The original name, nicotinic acid, was too reminiscent of tobacco. Bright yellow urine after taking it is normal: that is excess riboflavin.
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 (B8). The blend is free of vitamins B11 (folate) and B12 and is therefore ideal for those who have difficulty tolerating methylated B vitamins. Because they have deliberately not been added to this complex, you have the option of adding non-methylated or other preferred forms of vitamins B11 and B12 to your daily routine as you see fit. The complex is also free of all common allergens and of artificial colourings 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 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 (B8) is important for the skin and for the condition of the hair, contributes to normal fat and carbohydrate metabolism and supports energy levels.
The evolution of epigenetics
Epigenetics is a science that has changed and evolved considerably in recent years. More and more, we are 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 we can map our entire DNA, but that still leaves us a long way off. After all, our DNA is comparable to a computer, where it is up to the software (the epigenomes) how the computer is used. The most important epigenetic processes in our body are the 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 (B8). Free of vitamin B11 (folate) and B12 for more control and flexibility in adjusting 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 release energy from food, supports normal skin and is important for the nervous system. Biotin (B8) is important for the skin and for the condition of the hair, contributes to normal fat and carbohydrate metabolism and supports energy levels. Free of milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, nuts, wheat, soy, gluten, GMOs and artificial colourings 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 onto proteins, amino acids, enzymes and DNA, and among other things the process takes care of 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 a methyl donor. Methyl groups play an important role in gene expression, as they help 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 declines as people get older. This has made the relationship between health and the ability to methylate a popular field of research.
Epigenetics and 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 markings around the DNA that can switch genes on and off. The idea behind it is that an organism's experiences, living conditions and diet have a major influence on its hereditary make-up. For 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 is therefore aimed at detecting our DNA markings (also called SNPs or ‘single-nucleotide polymorphisms’) and making them manageable with the help of supplements and changes in diet and lifestyle, so as to ‘clean up dirty genes’, as it were, in Lynch's words.
About Seeking Health
From an early age, 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 book Dirty Genes, he describes how the cause of numerous health problems may lie in having ‘dirty’ genes and 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 B8, are good for memory, provide mental energy and promote energy metabolism.
