Niacin, one type of vitamin B3 (another is Niacinamide), is found in food sources including meats, fish, nuts, and certain vegetables. It plays a vital role in the human body for various biological processes to take place efficiently. Niacin has many health benefits which are explained below.
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1. Prevent Cardiovascular Disease
The major health benefit of niacin is that it can prevent cardiovascular diseases. It helps lower LDL cholesterol (bad), and one of the most well-known risk factors for heart disease and cardiac problems is having high LDL levels. Since heart disease is the number one killer in America today, this benefit alone makes niacin a very important vitamin to take.
The niacin binds to LDL receptors, causing them to increase the amount of HDL cholesterol that they release into the blood. Therefore reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and damage to your coronary arteries and heart valves.
2. May Reduce Blood Pressure
Niacin may lower blood pressure by relaxing the arteries, allowing for them to dilate more easily. This allows blood to travel more smoothly through your body, reducing your risk of heart attack or stroke. Although you shouldn’t use niacin as a replacement for any other medications that are prescribed to you for hypertension, it can be used as an alternative or supplement.
3. Promote Skin health
Niacin increases blood flow to the skin, which means that more nutrients and oxygen will be delivered. This can help delay or prevent sagging skin for people who are aging, but it also helps promote healthy skin in younger individuals.
4. Increase Neurological Health
Niacin may increase the brain and nervous system by improving attention span, memory retention, and reaction time.
5. Regulate Digestion
Niacin helps your digestive system work more effectively by promoting healthy stomach acid production. It also helps with the release of bile from the liver, which is a chemical that’s responsible for breaking down fat in the small intestine during digestion.
This makes niacin useful for people who want to maintain a proper diet and lose weight because it can help them to digest their food more easily and improve absorption of nutrients.
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