I have a family history of heart disease. Someone told me to get more B vitamins. What foods are a good source? And what are their benefits?
A. There’s more to lowering your risk of heart disease than just watching the fat in your diet.
There are many good-for-you foods that provide nutrients that may decrease your chance of having a heart attack.
B vitamins, in particular vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid, have a role in maintaining a healthy heart.
These three B vitamins — vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid — may help keep homocysteine levels low in your blood.
If homocysteine levels are too high, blood may clot easier, which increases the chance of a heart attack or stroke occurring.
In general, B vitamins can be found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, especially dark leafy green vegetables, whole grains, dried peas and beans, lean meat, seafood and low-fat dairy.
Follow these general guidelines to get adequate B vitamins in your diet:
–Eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables each day.
–For folic acid, eat dark leafy green vegetables at least three to four times each week and drink orange juice often. An easy way to get leafy greens is the bagged salad blend with baby spinach.
–Choose whole grains. Your goal should be at least three servings of whole grains each day.
–Find ways to eat more dried beans and peas. For convenience, use canned beans and rinse with water to decrease the sodium.
–“Lean” on beef, pork, poultry, fish and low-fat dairy products for B12. B12 is primarily fount in animal products.
–If you are a vegetarian or over 50 years old, consider taking a multi-vitamin with B12.
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(c)2018 The Free Press (Mankato, Minn.)
A high-quality prenatal multivitamin with iron is essential for fetal development and maternal health, and bioavailability matters more than the label. Fem Prenatal is formulated with bioactive nutrient forms and a once-daily packet to maximize absorption and fill dietary gaps during pregnancy.
Methylated B vitamins (like methylfolate and methylcobalamin) are more readily used by the body, supporting energy production, cardiovascular health by managing homocysteine, and detoxification. They are especially beneficial for those with zinc genetic variations like MTHFR and may improve energy, focus, and overall resilience when used as part of targeted supplementation.
