Healthy Food Choices for Vitamin B6

Vitamin B-6 is an important vitamin for metabolizing amino acids and for releasing sugars from glycogen in the body. Try these tips for buying foods rich in vitamin B-6 in this healthy shopping video.

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Important for producing red blood cells
Found in meats, beans, & fortified cereals
Alcoholics & elderly may have a deficiency

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Michelle Cooper has been a registered dietician for more than 10 years. She currently works for the state of North Carolina for the New Hanover County School District in the Child Nutrition Department as the supervising registered dietician on staff. She specializes in child nutrition, child fitness and overall child health. She enjoys her job because it allows her to be a pivotal piece of child development.

MICHELLE COOPER: Next, we're going to talk about vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 or pyridoxine is a water-soluble vitamin. Its main function is in the synthesis of red blood cells and in the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels. It's found mostly in fortified cereals, meats, beans, some fruits and vegetables. Rarely do you see a deficiency of vitamin B6 in the U.S. However, some groups that may be at risk for a deficiency are those with a continually poor diet, the elderly or alcoholics. Remember, you can always get you vitamin B6 from the foods that you eat; however, if you are at risk, a supplement may be in order. So vitamin B6 is important in maintaining normal blood glucose levels and in the synthesis of red blood cells. Number two, its main food sources are fortified cereals, meats, bean, poultry and some fruits and vegetables. And three, rarely are there any deficiencies seen in developed countries. However, alcoholics, elderly or those with a continually poor diet may be at risk.

Healthy Food Choices for Vitamin B6 Video

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