Niacin Flush Solutions

At first glance, Niacin flushing may seem like a bad thing. Your skin can turn red and you may feel uncomfortable and worry that you’ve done something wrong. While a niacin overdose needs to be carefully monitored and used in moderation, the resulting Niacin Flushing that occurs can have benefits. Niacin uses have become more commonplace and lots of research is available to support the concepts of Niacin flushing.

Niacin uses can include things that you might not suspect at first glance. Things like weight loss, lower cholesterol, fighting depression, and more. Once the stigma of the word “overdose” is glossed over and you realize the benefits of Niacin uses, you can succeed at some of your more lofty goals.

You can actually improve your cholesterol level by eating foods rich in niacin. Leave the pills behind you, forget the costs of filling unnecessary prescriptions, and begin to change your life in a way much easier than you could ever have anticipated. The products that doctors tell you to purchase come with a hefty price tag, while niacin rich foods have standard costs just like any other meal plan.

Depression is a huge factor in weight problems, not to mention your general level of happiness. Niacin has been proven to improve levels of depression to the point where it’s not a problem anymore. The lack of certain micro-nutrients in your diet can actually cause depression. Counter depression with niacin and once again leave the drugs behind you.

Accelerate your weight loss and stay on the right track by using niacin as a guideline. It can keep you on the correct path to dropping weight, shedding pounds, and maintaining a healthy waistline. Niacin uses can include weight loss, especially if you’re already on the path to weight recovery!

Niacin helped me to lose 15 pounds!

Swallowing dozens of pills can have adverse side effects that last a lifetime. Why risk all of those horrible negative aspects of commonly prescribed drugs when you can have a risk free solution for a lower cost? It only makes sense: niacin uses can include what you’re already looking for without having any risk factors that hold you back and hurt you in the long run.

Improve your sleep and get more out of your nightly relaxations. Wake up feeling truly refreshed and be ready to conquer the day! Niacin helps provide the energy you have, and improves your acquirement of energy through sleep. You’d be amazed at how better you’ll feel in the morning after a good Niacin supplemented sleep.

One of the least known benefits, but nonetheless true, is the ability to stimulate hair follicles. Men especially have a horrible fear of losing all their hair. Don’t worry about it any longer! Take the plunge with Niacin uses and see how it can help stimulate follicles to encourage hair growth where you need it most.

Most of the research online provides only vague allusions to how niacin uses can benefit. There is proven data that says that Niacin flushing can really help you get more sleep, fight depression, encourage hair growth, increase your weight loss, and more!

Niacin Detox

Our bodies do a pretty good job of detoxifying themselves, but the problem is that the average body simply cannot keep up with the poor dietary and lifestyle choices that we subject it to on a daily basis. What that means is that despite the best efforts of our bodies, it simply cannot keep pace with the onslaught of toxins that it is bombarded with on a number of fronts. The only way to really clear those out is to give the body a little bit of help by performing a detoxifying niacin flush.  Using Niacin has been recognized by many as being an effective way to help flush out those toxins, although there have been some that question it’s use given that it does produce some side effects when being used.

Niacin, which is also known as Vitamin B3, provides a number of positive health benefits that go beyond the flushing of toxins. When used properly, Niacin can help lower your bad cholesterol and raise the good. That usually means going on a very strict diet or worse yet, being forced to take an expensive pill foisted upon you by greedy pharmaceutical companies. The same rules apply when it comes to depression, and it has been shown that Vitamin B3 can be used in combination with a very definite meal plan that can help combat the negative feelings of depression. Finally, niacin detoxing can do wonders for your skin. I always have had unclear skin even after my 20th birthday, but with help of niacin detoxing regularly, the acne has gone away and my skin is perfectly clear.

Finally clear skin after years with horrible acne...

One of the most popular reasons for deciding to go with a detoxifying flush though, besides getting rid of the nastiness that has built up in your body, is to lose weight. Having all those toxins flushed out means that your digestive system can start to perform at its best, which means that your body can do a much better job of taking care of what you put into it. It’s not uncommon for people to lose upwards of 15lbs in just a few short weeks, and if you can also commit to a better lifestyle during the period of the flush, then you are likely to lose even more.

As mentioned earlier there are those in the medical community that do not look favorably upon using Niacin as a means of detoxification. The feeling among those who have seen the benefits of the flush are that the concern has more to do with the money that the pharmaceutical companies would lose should it get out that there is an affordable product that is equally as effective as the pills that they produce, and oftentimes with less harmful niacin side effects. That’s not to say that you won’t experience any type of discomfort when using Niacin, and the opposite is actually true. Almost everyone will experience a certain level of red skin and itchiness, which is usually a sure sign that the B3 is doing its job. The entire feeling of the flush can be uncomfortable, and if you don’t follow certain guidelines you could end up doing some major damage to your body. You should always talk to your doctor first before attempting any type of detox, and if you experience problems during the period of the flush, then you should seek medical help.

Niacin Toxicity

Niacin, also known as the vitamin B3, is crucial to the healthy function of the human body.  Some of its primary functions include the repairing of DNA, regulating metabolism and aiding in hormone production.  Due to the delicate nature of these tasks, too much or too little niacin in the system to can lead to serious issues if not taken care of.  What about niacin toxicity, or too much niacin in the system?  What are some causes, symptoms and treatments for niacin toxicity?  Here are a few things you should know.

Niacin toxicity

To begin, those who take niacin or B3 supplements whether to help lower their LDL cholesterol or just as part of a complete health regiment are one of the most at risk groups for developing high toxicity levels.  As with the taking of any supplements, it is best to check with your health care provider first.  For those who take niacin supplements, they normally have regular scheduled testing to ensure liver health and function.  How is it, though that you can tell if you have high levels of niacin in your system?  What are the symptoms?

When vitamin B3 or niacin levels are high, there are some telltale signs that manifest.  If those levels continue to rise or are prolonged, more severe symptoms may present themselves.  Also, it should be noted that these symptoms may not all be present in each case.  Some of the more commonly noted niacin side effects are:

• A flushed or red face
• Tingling in the arms or legs
• Upset stomach
• Itching

Should you note some of these symptoms, it is a good idea to write down times and patterns.  When you see your health care provider, inform them of what you have been experiencing.  If symptoms last or get worse, you should seek medical care.  These symptoms can be uncomfortable, so flushing the niacin from your system will definitely help.  In certain cases, higher toxicity levels can produce more severe signs and symptoms.  A few of the more common include:

• Jaundice, particularly around the eyes
• Blurred vision
• Stomach ulcers
• An increase in blood sugar levels
• A worsening of diabetes
• Worsening of any gout
• Liver damage

If you experience any of these symptoms, you need to go to the emergency room and seek treatment.  Of course, the best treatment for niacin toxicity, is prevention.  If you do have niacin toxicity, flushing it out can benefit you in so many ways.  Vitamin B3 aids in many important functions that keep our bodies running at their best.  Ensuring we get the proper amount, without overdoing it, will keep us healthy and results in niacin benefits.  This remarkable compound needs to kept in check, it’s like they say- it is not good to have too much of a good thing!

Niacin Drug Test

Today, more and more people are inquiring what is a niacin drug test is all about due to all the attention it had garnered. Niacin is actually another name for vitamin B3, and a niacin drug test is a term used for those who consume excessive amounts of niacin to flush out toxins left by drugs to pass urine drug tests (better known as niacin flush). This niacin drug test method had become extremely popular with athletes who are using enhancement substances, as well as those in the professional field who are doing recreational drugs.

Niacin drug test

However, the benefits of Niacin is more than just for a niacin drug test. Besides the niacin drug test passing method, it is also very contributive to our health. Vitamin B3 is very helpful to promote a healthy digestive system, and it is also a natural antioxidant. Niacin is also capable of reducing cholesterol levels and avoid heart diseases as well as works as a natural anti-inflammatory. It also helps to increase the overall energy level of the body and is vital in DNA synthesis and is able to help maintain a healthy skin complexion. There are too many benefits of vitamin B3 to be listed here. Vitamin B3 or niacin could be found naturally in foods such as wholegrain bread, tuna, wholegrain foods, chicken, halibut, milks, eggs, lean meat and peanuts. While they are available naturally from these food sources, those who wants to run the niacin drug test passing method would take vitamin B3 supplements and often take them in large amounts and dosage, above the suggested dosage.

The daily recommended consumption of vitamin B3 is 20 mg per day according to the recommended daily allowance standards. Those who wants to benefit from the effects of niacin should hike up the dosage a little to around 30 mg to 70 mg per day. You should stay in the suggested range to benefit from the positive effects of niacin and avoiding the dangers of niacin side effects. Those who take it for the niacin drug test passing method often take them in very high dosages which is very risky.

Those who take niacin for its benefit might showcase side effects if it is taken over the recommended dosage, however taking it at recommended dosage would not be potent enough to instill benefits. One of the most common side effects is the reddish niacin flushing at the skin. However recently there are ways that had been developed to overcome the flushing that usually comes with the supplementation of niacin and in those who try the niacin drug test passing method.

Niacin Acne

Niacin is a form of vitamin B3 and is traditionally used for treating diabetes and some skin conditions. Although Niacin can be made by the body, and found in some common foods such as yeast, meat, fish, milk, eggs and green vegetables, pure Niacin is sold in extracts as a form of medicine when the body is unable to produce enough, or needs more.

Recently Niacin has gone above and beyond its traditional calls, helping out suffers of acne as well. Reports are confirmed with clinical trials, and there has been evidence that Niacin can provide benefits for acne sufferers. During a study of acne and rosacea sufferers at the University of Pittsburgh 79% of users reported a vast change in skin appearance.

Niacin can be found in a number of topical creams and applied to areas in which acne is prevalent. Niacin can also be ingested via tablets to work on a digestive level.  Early reports would suggest that Niacin is able to aid with digestion and processing of heavily processed and fatty food. It has been said by some that acne forms as a result of the ability to process high fat and processed food, thus the skin becomes oily and produces the acne. If this is the case, acne that can be related to eating improper, unhealthy food can be cleared up with Niacin according to these reports.

My skin conditions improved dramatically

Niacin also works hard as an anti-inflammatory, stopping small pimples from turning into large and painful pimples. By reducing acne inflammation, Niacin works to speed healing time and evens out skin tone afterwards to work on preventing acne scars.

Niacin is also able to speed up the separation of skin cells after they die. Keeping pores unblocked from older dead skin cells is crucial especially with an acne problem. Many acne medications have people constantly scrubbing infected areas to keep pores clean, but niacin is able to offer a way in which pores themselves can work to become cleaner and if both methods are combined, the results should be dramatically reduced acne.

Some of the side effects of taking Niacin are what is known as the Niacin flush. This is where people may experience sweating, itching, tingling or shallow breathing after taking Niacin. It is a common side effect, and happens as a result of blood vessels on the surface of skin becoming dilated. Although it is not dangerous, some feel that the feeling is too uncomfortable to continue taking Niacin.

Another side effect of Niacin is that it can cause rashes and dry skin. Though these side effects are reported quite rare, and generally only occur when someone takes more than a recommended dosage of Niacin.

Niacin is a great new way to combat acne. By using it in proper dosage and keeping an eye on any side effects, even sufferers of the most severe acne have reported a positive change after using Niacin. With more testing to come, hopefully Niacin will soon be curing acne, promoting better digestion, and help millions find the secret to healthy skin.

Niacin Dosage

Many people use the nutritional supplement niacin for its many health benefits but depending on the niacin dosage it can have some uncomfortable (though typically not dangerous) side effects.  The most common side effect is known as niacin flush and is a sudden redness and warmth of the skin, especially on and around the face.  It is caused by the blood vessels of the body opening up and allowing blood to flow through more rapidly.

Most people can avoid this flushing by adjusting the niacin dosage to a lower level.  In fact, many people who are just starting to take a supplement will start off with a low dose and slowly raise it up to the level recommended by their doctor or nutritional advisor.

Getting the right niacin dosage is important not only to reduce the risk of unwanted niacin side effects but also to ensure you get the desired results from taking this supplement.  Niacin, also known as Vitamin B-3, helps your body in many ways.  One of the primary functions of niacin is to help your body convert carbohydrates into glucose.  It also is required for metabolizing fats, proteins and other essential bodily functions.

Niacin dosage

The reason most people take niacin, however, is to help lower blood cholesterol levels which can also help improve circulation throughout the body.  Niacin is a very important nutrient for overall health so it is critical to ensure you’ve got the right niacin dosage on a regular basis.  Occasional high doses of niacin can also help to flush out unwanted toxins from your body.

Using a high niacin dose occasionally is a common practice for many health conscious individuals as it is believed to help lower cholesterol levels, fight depression and even lose weight.  Many people have even found that by using niacin you can lower your cholesterol enough to be able to get off of potentially dangerous drugs which many people are on to help manage their cholesterol levels.

With very little risk of any serious side effects more and more people are giving niacin a chance to improve their health, especially in their circulatory system.  With the proper niacin dose many people can quickly realize a noticeable improvement in their overall health.  With all the benefits and it’s proven safety there is little reason not to give this impressive vitamin a try today!

Niacin Energy

When reading the label for various energy drinks and pre-workout boosters, I noticed that many of them contain high dosages of vitamin b3. One of the of most overlooked niacin benefits is the energy boost it can give. Obviously, niacin does give some sort of energy boost, and this is primarily caused by the sensations of warmth, tingling, and palpitation that can occur and may be interpreted as a ‘boost.’ This article will try to analyze the effects of niacin for your energy levels.

Niacin Deficiency

The gain of niacin flushing concerning energy for people that have a diet that is not lacking in vitamin b3 is minimal. Only people, who are binge drinking often or have a diet deficient in niacin, will feel a strong boost when taking in a lot of niacin.

It is important to attain the daily recommend dose of niacin because vitamin b3 is essential for energy release in tissues and cells and is responsible for maintaining their integrity. It also helps in the production of the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), which aids the release of energy from meals and is effective anti-aging agents. Without NAD and NADP the energy-release cycle functions suboptimal and food’s energy is put to waste.

It seems that adding niacin to energy drinks is especially profitable for the manufacturers. Almost all people in the Western part of the world, that can afford to buy energy drinks, will probably not need the niacin in the drink because their diet is not deficient in niacin. The extra niacin is superfluous regarding energy.

Vitamins for energy

Other Vitamins

Niacin is not the only vitamin that may be useful in creating an extra burst of energy. Almost all other vitamins belonging to the vitamin B complex can increase your energy levels. The most effective ones are:

• Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)
• Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)
• Vitamin B7 (Biotin)
• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
• Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)

Conclusion

Niacin flushing can only increase energy levels if you are deficient in vitamin b3. This is quite rare in the Western countries, so niacin in energy drinks is in most cases superfluous. Just be sure to consume enough B complex vitamins and you will be fine.

Moderations

A general rule of thumb in life is: too much of something is never good for you. Niacin is a rare exception to this; a niacin overdose will improve your health. However, a niacin flush can be overdone. It is very rare that people die because of too much niacin in their system: For this more than 200,000 mg is needed. It is almost impossible to attain these amounts with supplements, let alone with natural food. However, you still need to be careful, because too much niacin can cause permanent damage to the body.

Liver Damage

One of the most important things to know about niacin and liver damage is that time-releasing niacin is more likely to inflict damage upon your liver than the ‘normal’ variant. If you are planning to take a lot of niacin for an extended period of time, it is a wise move to get your liver checked from time to time.  It is rare that short-term users suffer permanent liver damage; long term users are more prone to negative consequences.

Niacin upper limit

Recommended Doses

For healthy people that do not have to lower cholesterol or necessarily need the other benefit affiliated with niacin flushing, I would recommend to stick to the recommended daily dose of 15-20 mg per day.

However, if you want to shred a few pounds or grow back hair naturally, you will have to overdose niacin in order to experience significant results. An overdose should exceed 100 mg per day. But try to limit niacin intake to at most 3000 mg per day. An amount higher than this could lead to permanent damage, although this is not likely.

Introduction

When I began to do niacin flushing regularly, I accidentally discovered another salutary effect of niacin: Growing hair back in a natural way. There is also much scientific research that supports this idea, and I can say out of personal experience that niacin truly does help countering hair loss.

Workings

I have already described the process your body goes through when you consume an overdose of niacin, in this article. However, the increased blood flow does not only give your body a chance to get rid of toxic waste, it also improves circulation to the scalp and thereby stimulating hair growth.

Moreover, as you might know, niacin lowers your cholesterol, and this is also important for hair growth since accumulated cholesterol on the scalp transforms to enzyme 5 alpha reductase. The main task of this enzyme is to convert the male hormone testosterone into the more potent form DHT (dihydrotestosterone).  This is a very active form of testosterone that causes aggression, sex drive, but also hairless. Needless, to say, you really want to avoid too much DHT in your body, especially if you are a women.

What you need to do

In order to provoke the positive effects of niacin overdose on hair growth, you do not have to consume such high amounts that you experience niacin flushing. The recommended dose of niacin for improving hair conditions is 35 mg per day, and this is way less than the amounts that generally cause the feelings of unease and other side effects.

You can benefit from the positive effects of niacin on hair growth in two ways:

• Internal: By consuming niacin rich foods or taking in supplements.
• External: By applying niacin topically.

However, it has to be noted that if you apply niacin topically, you will need a special form of niacin in order to guarantee optimal results. You will need niacin that is lipophilic. This form or niacin works better, because it can penetrate deeply into the skin. Forms of niacin that are not lipophilic will have no or minimal results on hair growth.

Me, receiving a niacin hair treatment...

Conclusion

Niacin is a convenient, cheap and natural way of countering hair loss. It works, because niacin overdosing does improve blood flow to the scalp and it reduces the production of DHT. The dose that is needed to achieve the niacin benefits is approximately 35 mg per day, and you can achieve this in an oral way or topically.

Niacin for Bodybuilding

One of the best kept secrets in bodybuilding is the use of niacin prior to contests. Athletes use this to look stronger, fitter and leaner. It can certainly make a difference in bodybuilding competitions. This article will discuss how niacin can improve vascularity, increase performance during training and stimulate growth hormone.
Moreover, the intention is to solidify the assumption that a relation exists between niacin and bodybuilding.

Increased vascularity

Niacin is proven to increase your vascularity, and this is a desired effect for most bodybuilders during a contest. It will also make you look a little ‘dried’ out.
Furthermore, vein size is increased significantly. However, it has to be noted that vascularity also is very dependent on genetics. Some people will benefit more from the niacin in vascularity than others.

See the video below, to see a professional bodybuilder taking niacin prior to a contest.

Other workings

Niacin is involved in nearly 60 metabolic processes related to energy production and ranks high for bodybuilders by virtue of its critical importance in providing training fuel. It simply helps you to transform fat into energy. However, it has to be noted that athletes will need more niacin than non-athletes to receive the same results. And as you might know, a high amount of niacin in the body can produce some pretty uncomfortable niacin side effects, which you don’t want during a workout or bodybuilding contest.

Niacin also stimulates growth hormone that is essential for muscle growth, as it boosts cell generation in muscles, bones and vital organs, allowing muscles to grow, as well as rehabilitates injured tissues. An important note is that in order to optimally benefit from the niacin overdose, you will have to consume it on an empty stomach, although it is generally recommended to take in niacin with a large meal. This is because when niacin can solely concentrate on working its releasing properties on the growth hormone without any interruption, the rise of the hormone is quite significant.

Niacin bodybuilding

Timing

The best time to consume the niacin is just before sleeping. However, be sure that you haven’t eaten a meal up till two hours beforehand. Growth hormone generally peaks an hour after you have gone to sleep, so this is an excellent way to build muscle while sleeping…

Niacin for Anxiety

Lately, I have been receiving some messages from people that say they have reduced their social anxiety by consuming niacin. When I first heard this, I was very skeptical: How could consuming a micro-nutrient improve your mood and feelings of social angst?  This article will discuss the relation between niacin and anxiety, and hopes to answer the question for once and for all.

Effects on anxiety

In a previous article, named ‘niacin depression‘, I already stated that consuming enough niacin can reduce stress. However, lately people have been making statements that overdosing niacin to some extent could make you more outgoing and reduce social anxiety. Some scientific researches I found support this theory too. However, there are also a lot of adversaries of this theory.

First of all let’s discuss the supporters of this theory.
Recent research has shown niacinamide to be as effective as benzodiazepines for reducing anxiety. Dr. Jonathan Prousky, a well-known Naturopath in Toronto has had excellent results in treating anxiety with niacinamide. Read more about his experiences, here.

Opponents of the theory mainly say that the positive effects on anxiety are caused by the so called placebo effect and that a simple b-vitamin could do nothing about emotions. However, it is certain that a deficiency in some nutrients can cause depression and negative feelings. Moreover, the contestants have no real scientific evidence that niacin is useless as method of treating depression and anxiety.

Niacin social anxiety

Dose and type

Another thing people often wonder is if they can use nicotinamide, since they will not use the supplement for improving their cholesterol but solely for improving their anxiety. The answer to this is that they both work well. However, in practice it is still niacin that works best, especially the flushing ones. So it might be worthwhile to just endure the extremely uncomfortable feelings for the greater good.

Supplement

However, you should not see niacin as a magic pill to cure you of anxious feelings. First and foremost, you should implement a proper diet and exercise schedule. The habit of eating well and getting your ass of the couch generally helps the most. However, niacin can certainly aid and accelerate the process.

Niacin for Weight Loss

One thing that not many people know about niacin flushing is the fact that vitamin b3 consumption can have a slimming effect.  Vitamin b3 enables your body to transform fat, proteins and carbohydrates into energy. In effect, the body has a higher capability of burning fat. This article will explain the relation between niacin and weight loss.

Niacin weight loss

How it works

Consuming niacin rich meals doesn’t influence your weight in a direct manner, but because it reduces stress and increases energy, indirectly you are able to shed a few pounds. This generation of extra energy can give you the motivation to run longer and exert more effort during your exercises.

It is proven by scientific research that b-vitamins can help the body endure stress more easily. Stress is one of the greatest weight gaining factors that you have no real influence on. The body reacts to stress by generating a hormone called cortisol. Too much cortisol in your blood will make you fatter around the belly, especially in the long run.

In order to guarantee optimal performance of the b-vitamins, it is necessary to drink lots of water every day. I would recommend drinking more than 8 glasses a day in combination with niacin rich foods.  I often receive questions from readers that wonder why they should consume that much water every day. First of all it is a very healthy habit to drink more than 2 liters of water per day. Secondly, water transports these b-vitamins to the cells where they are needed most.

Timing

In order to get the most out of niacin to lose weight, be sure to consume the niacin rich foods just before you exercise. You can feel some side effects like a red skin and a light headache but this can be avoided by taking an aspring together with the niacin. You can also avoid these uncomfortable feelings by starting by overdosing niacin a few weeks prior to exercising with it to let your body get accustomed.

Niacin for Cholesterol

Taking in niacin as way of improving your cholesterol is often ridiculed by doctors and health professionals. They do this, because they have no money to earn by advising you to consume more niacin rich meals. Moreover, they often exaggerate niacin side effects. The purpose of this article, therefore, is to tell you the exact truth about the relation between niacin and depression.

Niacin cholesterol

Cholesterol explained

For people who have never had problems with their cholesterol, this article is also important, because when you age, you might have increased cholesterol and in this case, prevention is certainly better than the cure. First of all, I will provide a short explanation about cholesterol itself. There are two types of cholesterol, ‘bad cholesterol’ (also known as LDL) that increases the risk of heart diseases and ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL) that mainly consists of proteins and removes bad cholesterol from the artery walls. LDL has the tendency to ‘stick’ to your artery walls, making your veins narrower.

Niacin and Nicotinamide

While they sound very similar, Niacin and nicotinamide do not have the same effects on cholesterol. This is another myth spread around by medical practitioners. Nicotinamide does not cause niacin benefits like widening of the veins. Because of this, nicotinamide could never improve your cholesterol. However, nicotinamide has the same effects as niacin on skin problems, so it is still a good supplement to fight acne. Since nicotinamide doesn’t widen the veins, it will not cause the same side effects as a niacin overdose. The common side effects of niacin flushing like reddening of the skin, a tingling feeling in the chest and a feeling of sunburn do not apply to increased nicotinamide consumption. This is also the reason why it does not affect your cholesterol. The best niacin cholesterol dosage is about 50 mg per day.

Healthy lifestyle

It also helps to have a fit and healthy lifestyle overall. The following things can help you to improve your good cholesterol besides niacin:

• Stop smoking.
• Eat healthy foods every day instead of junk food.
• Start an exercise schedule.

Combining this with consuming enough niacin every day can have a profound effect on your ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL).

Health Benefits of Niacin

There has been much written about the negative aspects of too much niacin or a deficiency in Vitamin B3. However, less is known about the benefits of a balanced niacin dose or an amount slightly above that. Therefore, this article will describe all the positive aspects that are related to niacin consumption.

Niacin Flush Benefits

It is generally known, that niacin widens the blood vessels. This makes two of the most important niacin benefits possible: Lowering cholesterol and detoxification. Both processes will be described in the following.

Cholesterol solution

Consuming a big amount of niacin on a daily basis can indeed lower cholesterol. It prevents the thickening of artery walls. It increases the good kind of cholesterol (HDL) and reduces the bad cholesterol (LDL).  Niacin is especially helpful for stimulating the blood circulation in the so called capillaries. Capillaries can be seen as the access roads on a highway.

Niacin benefits are caused by increased bloodflow through capillaries

They are small and often, there is no blood circulation here. Increased dosage of Vitamin B3 can even widen these sorts of veins.  It also explains the phenomenon of the so called ‘niacin flush’. Capillaries are often located close to the skin and surface areas. The increased dose of niacin allows more blood to flow through the capillaries, causing the skin to redden. During this increased blood flow, the capillaries will dump their ‘waste’.  Therefore, it is actually a good thing to undergo a niacin flush. It may generate a feeling of unease, but in the long run it is only good for your body and health in general.

Detoxification

Capillaries are the most useful in reaching the so called fatty tissues.  Many toxic elements are stored in these fatty tissues. Because of the widening of the veins, more blood will flow through the fatty tissue, and this gives your body the chance to get rid of the toxic.

One side note to make is that it is the nicotinic acid in niacin that actually carries out the detoxification. In the past, there was much confusion about this among people.  The toxic is gathered in the fatty tissues, mainly because the least oxygen and the most crucial nutrients are transported here. During the flushing some histamine are created by the body, and this explains the irritation of the skin.

However, it has to be noted that a ‘niacin flush’ is not a magic pill to solve all your problems relating cholesterol and toxic waste in the body. It cannot replace a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise. However, if you combine eating well on a daily basis, exercise regularly and taking enough Vitamin B3, your body will get rid of the poison much easier, and this will certainly aid to general well-being.  Other things you can do to improve this process: Sauna visits, massages and drinking plenty of water (2 liters a day, at least).

Conclusion

Niacin flushing is indeed good for your health as long as you do not consume excessive amounts that lead to  well known niacin side effects. It can improve your cholesterol and eliminate toxic waste in the body. Combining this with a general healthy lifestyle, will certainly increase your well-being and overall health!

Niacin for Depression

It is crucial to consume enough niacin on a daily basis. Not only does it help against addictions like smoking and alcoholism, it can also prevent depression including suicidal tendencies. Depression is one of the most occurring mental diseases in all parts of the world. There is no real solution for depression, but there are some nutrients that can help in the process of becoming mentally stronger. Niacin is one of those natural nutrients that can fight depression.

Where it Goes Wrong

You need to consume vitamin B3 every day, no matter how much you have eaten of it in the past. Some people think they can eat niacin rich products in huge amounts once a week, and that this will be enough. But this is certainly not the case, since the body cannot store niacin.  Furthermore, people who drink lots of liquor can also develop niacin deficiencies, since alcohol destroys Vitamin B.  Other things that are bad for niacin are: Refined sugars, nicotine, and caffeine.

Niacin and Depression: Workings

One of the most important neurotransmitters that help in the generation of happy feelings is serotonin.  When you have a deficiency in Vitamin B3, your body will use the amino acid tryptophan in order to produce Vitamin B3 in the liver.  However, you will need 50 mg of tryptophan for 1 mg of niacin. And tryptophan is the precursor of serotonin, indeed the stimulator of happy feelings. This will naturally lead to a depression. When you are deficient in niacin, you should consume 50 mg per day instead of the recommended 15 mg for women and 20 mg for men. This is the ideal niacin depression dosage. Do this for a week and your deficiency should go away. Fortunately, an amount of 50 mg is just low enough to be sure no niacin side effects will occur. Check out this video below for more in-depth information about the relation between depression and niacin explained by Andrew Saul, PhD.

Other Vitamins against Depression

In another article on this website, I have already described what foods are the best for increasing your daily niacin intake (niacin flush).  However, there are also some other Vitamins that could help you counter depression more easily. These are primarily of the vitamin B group, just as niacin (B3).  The B-complex vitamins function directly with the nervous system. Because of the water soluble nature of the vitamin B complex, you will pee excessive amounts you consume, however still be careful, because an overdose can lead to very uncomfortable feelings.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)

Thiamin can have a real influence on your behavior. For example, it can cause fatigue, irritability, insomnia and increased feelings of anger. Especially pregnant women should be careful, because they are more vulnerable to vitamin B1 deficiencies.

Foods for preventing niacin depression

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)

A crucial nutrient for bodybuilders, because it helps in the development of muscle and it also makes sure amino acids are absorbed properly.  This vitamin is also related to memory and cognitive performance of the brain, so particularly for students, a deficiency could be very annoying.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Pyridoxine is a very important micro-nutrient relating to the production of serotonin, just like niacin. If this vitamin is well balanced, it can lead to a very relaxed feeling and sereneness.  However, be very careful when you are using anticonceptive pills, drink lots of alcohol or when you suffer from kidney malfunctioning. In these circumstances, a deficiency is easily obtained.

Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)

A deficiency of folic acid is one of the biggest contributors to a depression. However, deficiency is very rare in the Western world, since more and more food contain folic acid in some amounts.  Just like the other vitamins, you have to be careful when pregnant, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol or when you are enduring kidney problems.

Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)

A deficiency in this vitamin can actually have a positive consequence: Some weight loss! However, the negative sides of a deficiency make it not worth the effort. A deficiency can lead to: mental fatigue, irritability and severe mood swings. Finally, cyanocobalamin is also important for the functioning of your brain, especially for elderly people.