There are thousands of opinions out there touting which supplements are needed in your body if you ever expect to have a chance winning the weight loss battle. Are you frustrated yet? I know I am! Because of these endless and conflicting claims, the important takeaway for consumers to remember is, what works for one person may be ineffective for the next.

Every single body is unique and requires different supplements and or amounts of supplements to maintain optimal health. Vitamin B6, also called pyridoxine, which is the active form of pyridoxal-5’-phosphate, is one supplement that might give you a helping hand in beating the flab. Not everyone is deficient in this vitamin, so it’s important to work with your doctor or nutrition expert to learn which supplements may work best in your own body. A simple blood test can tell you which supplements you should consider using, which supplements you do not need to think about, and which supplements your body isn't able to process.

What is B6?
B6 is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning: it isn’t stored in the body. Your body uses what it needs of the vitamin and expels the remainder of it through urine. This also means that your body needs a continual supply of vitamin B6 to maintain optimal health. However, more is not necessarily better. High doses of this vitamin have been linked to incidents of nerve damage. Moderation, whether in pill form, injections, or it’s natural state, is key.

B6 Gives Protein a Boost
Eating foods rich in Vitamin B6 is the optimal way to nourish your body. Foods like avocado, nuts, or legumes are all good sources containing B6. Vitamin B6 helps to break down protein, which may sound counter-intuitive; your body needs protein in some form, right? B6 extracts protein from the food source into a usable form.

B6 Boosts Oxygen
Vitamin B6 also aids in making hemoglobin, which is responsible for carrying oxygen in red blood cells to the tissues in your body. Your body needs oxygen to maintain an optimal weight. Think about it: sedentary people gain weight, in part, because they are not taking in enough oxygen by moving their bodies. It is a well-known fact that oxygen-starved tissues die, therefore, it is essential to keep oxygen flow moving efficiently throughout the body.

B6 Converts Food into Energy
Experts in the diet industry have pointed out that a slow metabolism and a defective thyroid are the main culprits that sabotage even the best weight loss efforts. And they may be right. B6 is just one of the powerhouse B-Complex vitamins that convert carbohydrates into ready energy also known as metabolism.

After all, you need a decent amount of energy to get through the day and to flex that mental willpower muscle in sticking with your diet program. If you’re too tired to think, your body will naturally react - it knows it needs carbs for energy and your brain will send out the SOS for carb-rich foods. Without B6, carbs are converted to sugar and excess sugar is stored as fat.

B6 Boosts Metabolic Rate
The thyroid needs B6 to efficiently use iodine in the production of hormones. This vitamin aids in keeping the thyroid’s metabolic rate active. Thyroid is a lazy character. It insists on help to do its work. The more help it becomes accustomed to having, the lazier it gets! How frustrating that it’s a heavy hitter in the energy and metabolism department and yet can powerfully derail a body.

B6 is just one of the elements in the B-Complex family. It affects how well our body converts food into energy, carries oxygen in red blood cells to tissues in the body, and keeps a thyroid motivated to keep on working. As a bonus, this powerhouse vitamin can also improve a person’s level of happy and happy is good!

Do you have a B6 experience to share? Hop on over to the forum. We'd love to hear your thoughts.



This article contains affiliate links, which means I will receive a small compensation if you make a purchase using one of these links. If you are interested in purchasing a B6 supplement, please click on the Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk links below:

US: Life Extension Pyridoxal 5-Phosphate 100 Mg Vegetarian Capsules, 60-Count


UK: Life Extension Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate Caps (100mg, 60 Vegetarian Capsules)


Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and the articles I write are intended to increase your knowledge about the subject. It’s always a good idea to check with your personal doctor before adding any vitamins or dietary supplements to your daily regimen.