Thiamine helps convert carbohydrates into glucose, used to produce energy.
 
What is Vitamin B1?
Vitamin B1 or Thiamine is an essential B vitamin and nutrient, as it cannot be synthesized by the body and needs to be obtained from our diet. It was only in 1912 that chemist Casimir Funk coined the words ‘vital amine’ to describe the newly discovered class of chemicals that we now know as vitamins. The first B vitamin discovered was aptly named vitamin B1.
 
What does Vitamin B1 do?
Vitamin B1 plays a vital role in many metabolic reactions in plants and animal species. The body needs thiamine to manufacture ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is needed for cells to use as energy. B vitamins are water soluble and cannot be stored in the body. They aid the body to modify or break down fats and carbohydrates (food) into glucose (energy). Thiamine also helps the nervous system, heart and muscles function correctly. It is is also believed that vitamin B1 may improve the body’s ability to deal with stress.
 
Dietary sources of Vitamin B1
Thiamine is found in a wide variety of foods: trace amounts in most foods; and large amounts in organ meats and pork. Other foods that contain vitamin B1 are: vegetables; milk; cheese; peas; fruit; eggs; and whole grains.