Also known as pyridoxine and pyridoxal, vitamin B6 helps the brain work properly, enables the body to resist stress, helps maintain the proper chemical balance in the body’s fluids, works with other vitamins and minerals to supply the energy used by muscles, and is influential in cell growth. Like other B vitamins, B6 helps convert sugar into glucose, which the brain needs for fuel. It also benefits general circulation, which can improve memory. Older people need substantially more B6 than younger people, so the older you get, the more you’ll want to add to your diet. Vitamin B6, in conjunction with folate (another B vitamin) and vitamin B12, helps to lower blood levels of homocysteine, a risk factor for heart disease. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin B6 is 2.2 milligrams for men and 2.0 milligrams for women. Pregnant women need an additional 0.6 milligrams each day, and breastfeeding women need an extra 0.5 milligrams daily. Don’t exceed 100 milligrams a day without checking with your doctor; an excess of B6 can be toxic.
Foods rich in B6 include:
- Avocados
- Bananas
- Beef
- Carrots
- Chicken
- Fish
- Lentils
- Liver
- Rice
- Soybeans
- Whole grains