Riboflavin - Vitamin B2
How Does Riboflavin Work?
An antioxidant hero that fights against free radicals – if you don’t already know about Riboflavin, now is the time to find out!
How Riboflavin Helps the Body
These B Vitamins are little warriors! Also known as B2, riboflavin is a powerful vitamin that works independently, and as a team of B vitamins, to make you healthy. It is absorbed through the small intestine, where it then enters the blood stream and works its way around your body, providing nutritional value throughout. This water-soluble vitamin passes quickly through, as the body cannot store it, so it is important to refill your riboflavin reserves regularly to maintain the benefit.
How Riboflavin Gives You Energy
All B vitamins have a role to play in breaking down nutrients and turning them into energy, but riboflavin is especially good at it. It turns carbohydrates into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which primes our muscles ready for action (1).
Lots of other vitamins and minerals are associated with energy, including iron, folic acid, and some other B vitamins. Riboflavin helps the body absorb these, so that they can do their job properly. J. Schoenen et al. (2) studied the effects of riboflavin on migraine control, with very promising results. Since migraines and fatigue, so often go hand-in-hand, this is great news!
And riboflavin also helps create melatonin. This is the hormone responsible for you getting a good night’s sleep. If you are well-rested, you feel more energetic the next day.
Which Foods Contain Riboflavin?
Riboflavin is widely available in meat, dairy, and plant-based foods like spinach and almonds. Lots of foods are also fortified with this essential vitamin, including energy drinks, which rely on this vitamin to give you that boost you are searching for and provide the beverage with its yellow hue.