For young kids and everybody else, health is wealth. Usually if not hearing the line, eat your vegetable you'll hear the phrase, don't forget to take your vitamins before going to school or for work. Vitamins are helpful in all our internal systems processes, together with minerals that we get from the food that we eat, most importantly, the green leafy vegetable.

It keeps our body strong and healthy. As we grow older, our need for these vitamins grows more. That is why we buy multivitamin supplements. Here we will discuss one of the Vitamin B complex, the vitamin B2.

B2 also known as Riboflavin, similar with the rest of the B complex is a water soluble stored in our body responsible for processing amino acids and fats, it helps convert carbohydrates into adenosine triphosphate, which is also known as the fuel the body needs and it activates vitamin B6 and folic acid. Like B1, it also acts as an antioxidant. This means that B2 is required in our body daily.

Although they say B2 and all other B complex can easily be absorbed, usually the body only gets very few of it. One major cause is the process of how it is cooked. Heat easily reduces the amount of vitamins in all foods. This is why vitamin supplements are recommended.

Riboflavin eases watery eye fatigue and is really helpful in treatment and prevention of cataracts. B2 is also needed in the digestive tract keeping the mucus membrane healthy and helps absorb iron and B6 much easier. Not only that, riboflavin is also used for the health of the hair, nails and skin.

When you are experiencing cracks and sores at the corners of your mouth, eye disorders, swelling of the mouth and tongue and skin lesions, this means that you are suffering from a vitamin B2 deficiency. Other symptoms also include dizziness, hair loss, dermatitis, insomnia, poor digestion, retarded growth, light sensitivity, burning feet and slow mental responses.

B2 or Riboflavin had been used in referral to individual health concerns like anemia, canker sores, cataracts, migraine or headaches, Parkinson's disease, sickle cell anemia and preeclamsia to pregnant women.

For health purposes here are examples of foods where you can get B2. It is present in dairy products, organ meats, eggs, cheese, whole grains and of course leafy vegetables. It can also be found in fishes, legumes, and yogurt. The average amount that an individual should take in of the B2 is 1.2 mg per day for females, and 1.6 mg per day for males.

However, multivitamin supplements contain 20-25 mg. This is more than the body needs but nothing to worry about because too much intake of vitamin B2 is not as harmful as other overdoses of other vitamins. The only side effect is a normal yellow discoloration of the urine and nothing more. This is not dangerous.

But, for better results, it is highly recommended that you take in vitamin B2 with the other vitamin B complex especially vitamins B1, B3 and B6 because it is what works hand in hand with. Better take a prescribed B complex supplement available in most drug stores.

As precautionary measures, it is important that you learn more about each vitamin's benefit, why it is needed, its sources, how it helps us and many more. Nutritional magazines, cook books, healthy brochures and other reading materials are available everywhere especially in clinics providing us recipes and information about all the healthy products and menus there is that we can study and learn in preparing our food for the family.

If you think you are having vitamin deficiency, it is wise that you consult a dietitian, nutritionist, or even your family doctor in order to have the right prescription.

Inside the net there are a lot more informational sites regarding vitamin uses and recommended multivitamin supplements. Some sites offer a toll free charges where you can communicate to a dietitian for advises and many more.

For more knowledge, try finding posts about seminars and lectures about healthy diets. This way you can make sure that you serve the healthiest food not only for yourself but also to the people or your family you are serving it. Through this, you not only make yourself happy, other people too. Health is a treasure everyone should always be aware of. When one is healthy, it is never hard feeling great everyday.

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/benefits-of-taking-vitamin-b2-51394.html