While the US government is enjoying a ride in their new DOGE el MAGA (Let’s Make America Great Again), South Africans are taking a ride on the wild side on their home-made GNU. Not everyone believes it’s a GNU, however. Some maintain it’s a GOGGA (Government Of Greed, Gluttony & Arrogance). Like the Beetle your parents used to drive, this GOGGA always has space for one more. Unlike the Beatles your parents used to listen to, this GOGGA is seriously short on cash.
It’s not certain whether this shortage in funds led to the recent blitz of load shedding, but the GOGGA’s intent to VAT the last pennies out of your piggy bank sure is a sign of desperation. We have to wait another two weeks to see which side of the GOGGA-GNU will win the tug of war.
When elephants (or GOGGAs) fight, the grass (= us) gets trampled.
Living in South Africa requires having your wits about you 24-7-365. Dodging bullets, dodging taxis, dodging taxes. And that’s just for starters.
So, what can boost both your energy and your brain at the same time?
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) is essential for energy production, brain function and a resilient nervous system. Yet, most people don’t get nearly enough from their diet. Why? Because Vitamin B1 is easily destroyed by cooking and processing! Even if you’re eating well, you might still be running low.
The recommended daily allowance of Vitamin B1 is set at just a little bit above 1 mg per day for adults. That sounds easy enough, right? 1 mg is smaller than the eye can see, but it’s incredibly important for the entire body.
Where Do You Find Vitamin B1 In Food?
Now, we know what you’re thinking – “I eat a balanced diet, surely I should be fine, right?” Well, let’s take a look at the numbers…
To get your RDA of Vitamin B1, you can try eating:
Pork, broiled (200 g)
Oats, cooked (200 g)
Pecan nuts, unsalted (200 g)
Mussels, steamed (300 g)
Salmon, raw (400 g)
Black beans, canned (500 g)
Brown rice, cooked (550 g)
Sunflower seeds, raw (1,000 g)
Can you begin to see the problem? You’d need to have a stomach like a horse or the purse of a GOGGA-riding politician to afford to eat that much.
But Wait, There’s Less…
Not only is it jolly hard to find Vitamin B1 in food sources, it is even harder to absorb it.
Vitamin B1 is very poorly absorbed in the gut, meaning you need to take lots more to make up for the bits that go to waste.
And if you’re prone to drinking alcohol every day, you are depleting the Vitamin B1 stores in your brain faster than they can be replaced. Hint: Vitamin B1 is critical for normal brain functioning.
If you’re taking any psychiatric medication or prescription sleeping pills, your brain’s Vitamin B1 stores are also being depleted.
To add insult to insult to insult to injury, Vitamin B1 is a water soluble vitamin. This means, it is very difficult for Vitamin B1 to pass the blood-brain barrier to get where you need it most.
Where Did Our Distant Ancestors Get Their B1 From?
If it’s so difficult to get enough Vitamin B1 into your brain, and so easy to lose it, how did our ancient ancestors cope? Easy. They lived in a time before antibiotics. As such, they had Vitamin B1 producing bacteria / yeasts in their guts. Since the advent of penicillin and other antibiotics, the human race has all but destroyed these beneficial bacteria and yeasts from the gut.
You can, however, try to replenish them by eating fermented foods on a daily basis, while avoiding antibiotics. Like a biological game of snakes and ladders, one antibiotic is all it takes for you to slide all the way back to the first block again.
Why Supplement With Vitamin B1?
✅ Boosts energy levels – Helps convert food into energy, keeping you active and alert all day long.
✅ Supports brain function – Improves concentration, memory, and mental clarity.
✅ Strengthens the nervous system – Essential for nerve health and stress management.
✅ Aids digestion & metabolism – Supports the breakdown of carbs, fats, and proteins for better nutrient absorption.
✅ Promotes heart health – Plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system.
That’s why supplementing with our Vitamin B1 tablets is the smart and easy way to ensure you’re getting enough of this crucial nutrient.
Signs Of Vitamin B1 Deficiency
While few people display extreme Vitamin B1 deficiency, many people walk around with low levels of Vitamin B1. This can manifest in a number of ways:
* Anger outbursts (especially noticeable in two or three year olds)
* Brain fog
* Lethargy / Chronic fatigue
* Memory loss
* Suicidal thoughts
* Depressed or anxious mood
How Much Vitamin B1 Do I Really Need?
Studies show that a daily supplemental dose between 100 and 1,000 mg has clinically noticeable effects on the brain. We recommend that you take 100 mg daily for general well-being. However, if you are suffering from a chronic brain condition, a higher dose may be indicated.
But Is It Safe?
You may wonder if taking a dose that is 100x higher than the RDA is actually safe to take. Since Vitamin B1 is water-soluble, an excess is easily excreted in the urine. Your body and brain will take what they need and the rest will end up in your urine. There is no danger of toxicity, since no excess remains behind in the body. Even when a daily dose of 1,000 mg Vitamin B1 was taken for a year, the study subjects suffered no side effects.
The Team at Integrow Health
