10 Health Benefits of Thiamine

Thiamine is vital to many systems in your body. Known as vitamin B1, it is commonly found in both plant and animal food sources. This vitamin isn't produced in the body but is solely absorbed from food and stored in the liver for up to 18 days. This vitamin is water-soluble, so if you are B1 deficient, hydration is essential. Thiamine helps your body use the energy you absorb from foods, especially carbohydrates. It helps boost cognitive function and physical performance for endurance athletes. Thiamine is especially essential to preserving healthy skin, hair, and nails.

1. Boosts Energy Levels

Thiamine helps your body metabolize sugar into glucose in the gut. Sugar is a natural energy source, and the presence of plenty of B1 enables your body to properly absorb sugar from the foods you eat. Even foods that aren't enriched with sugar, like bread, fruit, and other carbohydrates, still contain vital energy that you need to not only power your workouts but also get through your day. Our bodies need thiamine to run this enzyme system, which releases energy for a variety of functions in the body.