The Vitamin Addict

Vitamin H is commonly known as Biotin and aids in the process in which energy is released form the foods that you eat. It also is used in the production of fatty acids and the metabolism of fats. This is an important and often overlooked vitamin.

Biotin is a big part of cell growth and is associated with the use of amino acids. Vitamin H helps your body to maintain a steady blood sugar level and aids in the transfer of carbon dioxide. It is indicated that biotin is good for healthy bone marrow and can even aid in relieving muscle pain.

There are even cosmetic reasons for getting enough Vitamin H. Vitamin H is believed to help strengthen your hair and nails and for this reason it is used in many hair and skin products along with some cosmetics. Biotin is also good for maintaining healthy nerve tissue and sweat glands

Vitamin H Food Sources

There are several foods that supply vitamin H for the body. However, in the event that there is a shortage of vitamin H in your body it can be manufactured by the body itself to a degree.

Some of the vitamin H food sources are listed below:

• Eggs
• Cheese
• Chicken breasts
• Beef liver
• Cauliflower
• Brewer’s yeast
• Salmon
• Mushrooms
• Nuts
• Spinach

If you are taking a biotin supplement then you should also take it with the vitamin B complex supplements. Many supplements work well when taken in combination as part of a regular dietary supplement. Sometimes vitamin C is also recommended to be taken in conjunction with vitamin H.

Biotin is not a vitamin that is easily destroyed in the body but if you take antibiotics for long periods of time you may need to take a supplement. Anyone who consumes food containing avidin such as raw eggs may also have a problem as avidin makes it difficult and in some case impossible for the body to absorb biotin. You should consult your doctor if you have any specific questions about this.

Someone suffering from a Vitamin H deficiency would notice a loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting along with excess fatigue. They may also notice tongue inflammation, fungal infections, rashes and dry scaly skin. It is not unusual for someone with a vitamin H deficiency to become depressed and have a problem with high cholesterol. Dry brittle hair of excess hair loss can also be associated with a vitamin H deficiency.

Benefits of Vitamin H

Vitamin H or biotin has many benefits for the body. Aside from aiding in metabolizing carbohydrates and the other benefits mentioned above, biotin is used to help with medical conditions. Many newborns suffer form a condition called cradle cap which is a dry scaly scalp condition that can be treated with vitamin H. People with dry brittle hair or a hair loss problem due to a biotin deficiency can be treated by taking a vitamin H supplement.

Since this vitamin helps to control blood sugar levels in your body it can be beneficial to diabetes. It helps fat to metabolize into energy more efficiently therefore, it is believed to be very useful for people who are trying to lose weight. Since any excessive amount of biotin found in the body is eliminated through feces or urine there is no known side effects or toxic levels to worry about.