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
Airbnb cleaning service Glenview ..Eating healthy is fast becoming a way of life. American's... Read More
Weight loss plans are almost always trying to get you... Read More
In a new study published by the American Heart Association,... Read More
There's no doubt--carbohydrates have taken center stage in public discourse... Read More
When was the last time you consumed soda? Most likely,... Read More
You may have heard of the "Portfolio Diet" wherein it... Read More
This is such a busy time of year, isn't it?... Read More
Meal sizes and frequency are very important. Over the years... Read More
Magnesium is an important mineral that serves numerous essential functions... Read More
The importance of protein in diet has been clearly established... Read More
On average 30% of foods in our daily diet are... Read More
Information on potassiumWhen you read about potassium and senate document... Read More
Archeological records indicate that man has cultivated the olive tree... Read More
Food nutrition factsFinding food nutrition facts and dietary nutrition used... Read More
As any student of chemistry will assure you, acids and... Read More
Food addiction isn't a problem. Pretending like you can't live... Read More
Fats have been unfairly lumped together as being all bad... Read More
If you or someone you know suffers from rheumatoid arthritis,... Read More
Almost every woman suffers with premenstrual syndrome at one time... Read More
A lot of people I've talked with about health supplements... Read More
With today's time constraints, stressful jobs, and "thin is in"... Read More
Several years ago, Marilyn M. couldn't even spell fibromyalgia.Now she... Read More
It is not a myth. Eating breakfast is an important... Read More
Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in... Read More
Arthritis - if you suffer from this illness, I don't... Read More
efficient cleaning crew Highland Park ..I start from the premise that eating instinctively means eating... Read More
Green tea has been used as for medical remedies in... Read More
Picture yourself in one of the following scenarios.You're cruising along... Read More
With all the news about Splenda of late and the... Read More
"You are what you eat."Does it sound familiar? You probably... Read More
Can we really stop the aging process, slow it down,... Read More
Besides providing taste, color, and aroma, certain seasonings can also... Read More
As a low carb dieter, your diet is undoubtedly high... Read More
I'd like to explain an important concept that most online... Read More
Are you concerned about taking care of your body before... Read More
Millions of people around the UK consume dairy products on... Read More
An American culture that is marked by a chronic lack... Read More
The research in support of dietary omega-3 fatty acids (such... Read More
I would like to raise a question: Is Rejuvenation possible... Read More
NutrientsFat, Sugar, Sodium and CarbohydrateThe sections on a food label... Read More
Do we really need a home water filter? Can't we... Read More
If you are like most people, you don't enjoy the... Read More
Today's tip is on hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).Hypoglycemia affects both... Read More
Headlines:Nearly a quarter of American adults just got diagnosed with... Read More
Calcium helps reduce constipationUsing calcium and magnesium in the right... Read More
The importance of protein in a healthy diet is well... Read More
Every day we are bombarded with information about food products... Read More
Water is the single most important element for human existence,... Read More
With new research, new products and new skin protection advice... Read More
What is the best protein powder to buy? I get... Read More
Nutrition |