Your face turns flush and your skin starts to itch. Your heart begins to beat faster. The itching may be felt all across your face and extend down your arms to your fingertips.
What is going on? If you're like me you forgot what you learned in school and had to call ask-a-nurse to be reminded.
You may have taken a little too much niacin, or vitamin B-3. It's ok, you'll be fine, it will probably wear off in about half an hour.
But it can really make you scared if you don't know what is going on.
What happened? I took a niacin supplement plus brewer's yeast which itself contains lots of niacin. That was nine years ago but I still remember it like yesterday.
Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid is very necessary for your body. Niacin is needed at the cellular level. It is an important nutrient in cellular processes that create the ultimate energy currency of your body - ATP or Adenosine Triphosphate.
A deficiency in niacin can lead to pellagra, which has a number of manifestations. An inflamed tongue and irritated gastric track and colon as well as depression and hard rough skin are just some of the symptoms of this deficiency disease.
Anxiety and hallucinations are also possible symptoms of pellagra. Wide spread pellagra is no longer seen in the United States, though individual cases can still occur.
Dermatitis, dementia and diarrhea are considered the 3 Ds or the classic symptoms of pellagra.
Diets rich in meats, eggs and milk provide adequate amounts of niacin to the body. Alcoholics and diabetics are at greater risk for being deficient in niacin.
Niacin is a vitamin, it is necessary to the body for cellular processes.
Oral supplementation can reverse the less severe cases of deficiency. In severe cases there may be permanent consequences.
So the next time your face flushes and you get an itching burning sensation down to your fingertips, take a moment to reflect before you panic. Did you have too much niacin?
This article is for information purposes only. If you have or think you have a health condition, consult your physician for proper diagnoses and treatment.
Dave Snape is a health, fitness and wellness enthusiast. His website is http://tobeinformed.com
home cleaning services Deerfield ..Information on potassiumWhen you read about potassium and senate document... Read More
Finally, a positive solution regarding America's difficult and costly campaign... Read More
I am sure you have heard you have to build... Read More
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed.... Read More
Why does disease begin in the digestive tract? Your digestive... Read More
"The physician who knows only medicine, knows not even medicine."... Read More
Information on potassiumWhen you read about potassium and senate document... Read More
For some people it is really hard to give up... Read More
BASIC MEAL & MENU PLANNINGAs a basis for meals and... Read More
During a recent discussion with my father about low carb... Read More
Fad diets have been around for more than 50 years... Read More
Sprouts not only taste good, but they are also a... Read More
Can the colors on your plate tell you what health... Read More
Constipation is a condition whereby the fecal matter traveling through... Read More
Nails are a protective horn at the end of our... Read More
I'm 40-something years old, and for 40-something years breakfast has... Read More
Most of us eat at restaurants for a variety of... Read More
Eating out when you are on a restricted diet always... Read More
I'm willing to bet you probably haven't heard the word... Read More
Cholesterol is an essential building block of every cell in... Read More
Having a personal wellness program has become a concern for... Read More
They sit left behind on relish trays. They're often by-passed... Read More
I turned into my parents' driveway in Maryland and parked... Read More
Soy, and most soy-based products, are nutritional powerhouses. Soybeans are... Read More
Okay, so you think you are doing pretty well with... Read More
recurring housekeeping Highland Park ..We come from a society where growing organic and just... Read More
Proper hydration is extremely important during exercise. Adequate fluid intake... Read More
Your Non-Conscious Mind is 98% of your full power. Over... Read More
A fictional overheard conversation at a Thelma's Fine Dining.Hi, I'm... Read More
"What exercises can I do to ?? As fitness professional... Read More
Random thoughts taken from valuable sources, what many nutrition experts... Read More
The adrenal or "stress glands" are small, triangular shaped glands... Read More
Dieting is a pain. I think basically everyone would agree... Read More
Cholesterol is an essential building block of every cell in... Read More
"It is a bone-deep change you are going into, my... Read More
Aging occurs when the body's cells die at faster rates... Read More
Bright white teeth and fresh breath does not necessarily... Read More
A beautiful smile and healthy mouth actually can come from... Read More
Beverages - and not just alcohol - are a significant... Read More
When we think about the benefits of being ensuring a... Read More
Just what is the "New Biology of Health?" And who's... Read More
On average 30% of foods in our daily diet are... Read More
In this fast paced world, good nutrition may sound very... Read More
For the executive, maintaining the much-needed balance between career, family,... Read More
The factors that affect the nutritional requirements of an individual... Read More
Can a child thrive on a vegan diet? The answer... Read More
In a world where heart disorders and diseases are becoming... Read More
The proliferation of fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and vending... Read More
Herbal teas have long been known to have medicinal benefits... Read More
THE RISKWhen you consume food that's high in acid or... Read More
Nutrition |