A Very Versatile Vitamin
“Nutrition Notes” in the current issue of Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food offers a brief, but informative article regarding the various benefits and versatility of the B-vitamin, Riboflavin. This “helper vitamin” is also known as vitamin B-2 and its versatility is considerable. Because of riboflavin, many vital physiological processes occur within the human body, processes which result in various end products that are imperative for optimal body performance. Riboflavin aids in the formation of red blood cells, the metabolism of fats and proteins, and also the conversion of carbohydrates into sources of energy. It is even responsible for maintaining healthy skin tone.
The Recommended Daily Allowance of riboflavin for men is 1.3 milligrams and for women, it is 1.1 milligrams. Riboflavin can be obtained from a variety of food sources, including dairy milk, cheese, yogurt, breads, fortified cereals, eggs, lean meats, and certain types of fish. Milk, in fact, obtains its yellowish tint from riboflavin and milk containers are opaque in color, because riboflavin is quickly destroyed when exposed to light. The etymology of the word, riboflavin, attributes its name to be a resultant combination of ribose, meaning sugar, and flavin, meaning yellow. Leafy, green vegetables, including spinach and broccoli, are also significant sources of riboflavin. So chew on this the next time you enjoy a big, green salad!
