By Candy, RN (Steele the Day)
There are eight B vitamins, usually referred to as the B-complex vitamins. B vitamins play an important part in the health of skin and mucous membranes, including hair, mouth, and eyes. Folic acid is a B vitamin and proper intake is essential for women to avoid certain birth defects. B vitamins also aid in the function of the nervous system by the breakdown of fats and proteins, and play important roles in heart health, circulation, and immunity. No one B vitamin does the trick – they work their magic when they are consumed together.
Deficiency in Vitamin B can lead to insomnia, memory loss, numbness and tingling, and a host of other symptoms. A well-balanced diet will ensure proper Vitamin B intake, but some people, including the elderly and people under excessive stress, need supplements. Check with your doctor if you think you may be deficient in Vitamin B.
Good sources of B include whole-grain cereals, rice, nuts, milk, eggs, meats, fish, fruits, and leafy green vegetables. Whip up this Breakfast Oatmeal Cookie before you go to bed. In the morning, toss on a few berries, nuts, and fruit, drizzle with honey or agave nectar and you have a great start to your day with a lot of B Vitamins.
Overnight Chocolate Breakfast Cookie
½ banana, mashed
⅓ cup rolled oats
2 Tbsp ground flax seed
1 Tbsp almond butter
1 tsp cocoa powder
3 Tablespoons almond milk
Mash banana and mix remainder of ingredients in a bowl thoroughly. Place on salad-size plate and flatten with a fork so it resembles a large cookie. Wrap with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator overnight. In the morning, top as you choose - banana, berries, chopped nuts, and coconut make great toppings, but use your imagination!
Candy Steele is a registered nurse who has worked with cardiac patients for over thirty years. “Functional foods” have become her passion, and she enjoys sharing her love of cooking, a random life and a faithful Jesus with her friends at Steele (the Day). She is blessed with three grown children, a new daughter-in-law, and a kind and patient husband who only knows how to fix popcorn (but she’s OK with that).