Vitamin B17
What is Vitamin B17?
Vitamin B17 also called laetrile is a naturally occurring chemical substance. It has been used in cancer therapy but its use is disputed since there is no proof that laetrile is able to cure cancer1.
Benefits
Vitamin B 17 provides the following health benefits3, 5:
Lower inflammation in body
Vitamin B17 contains antioxidants which help fight inflammations in the body. Therefore intake of this vitamin can help boost the health of patients suffering from inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, Crohn’s disease.
Lowering high blood pressure
Eating vitamin B17 foods regularly increases the quantity of high density lipoprotein and lowers the level of low density lipoprotein. Some of vitamin B17 foods such as almonds are also rich in monosaturated fats and health fats. This vitamin can reduce the amount of low lipoprotein cholesterol in the body.
Normally, cholesterol is responsible for elevating blood pressure in people. By consuming vitamin B17 foods such as cashew nuts and almonds, you will be able to reduce cholesterol levels in your blood. This will lower the risk of high blood pressure as well as promote good health of your heart.
It helps keep pH of cells normal
Consuming sufficient amounts of vitamin B17 can help normalize the pH of cells in the body. A normal pH in the body creates a favorable environment for your organs to function properly. While an abnormal pH level in the body creates a harmful environment that makes it difficult for organs to work properly and even it can cause failure of some of the organs or death.
It enhances immune system
Vitamin B17 has the ability to remove unhealthy cells in the body and as result protect you from infections. By consuming food rich in vitamins B17, you will greatly boost your immune system so that it is able to protect you from infections.
Sources
The following are natural sources of vitamin B17 you can include in your diets3, 6:
Seeds
Apricot seeds are rich in vitamin B17. Apart from apricot seeds, you can include other seeds in your diet such as cherries, prunes, pears, peaches and apples. Flax seeds have been found to have vitamin b 17 in moderate quantities and these seeds will also offer you vitamin b 12 to enhance your health. Examples of flax seeds you may eat are millet seeds, buckwheat seeds, etc.
Nuts
Nuts contain various vitamins, minerals, proteins and nutrients. Nuts such as almond and cashew nuts have vitamin B17. Eating almond regularly increases the quantity of high density lipoprotein and lowers the level of low density lipoprotein. Almonds are also rich in monosaturated fats and health fats. Almonds can reduce the amount of low lipoprotein cholesterol in the body by about 15% for every 7 grams consumed daily. Cashew nuts are effective in lowering blood pressure, strengthen your bones and help in weight loss. Almond and cashew nuts help keep your heart health.
Fruits
Fruits such as berries contain vitamin B17. Examples of berries include strawberry, raspberry and cranberry. Berries also contain high quantities of photochemical that save cells from harm.
Sprouts
Sprouts of whole green gram, alfalfa and garbanzo contain high levels of vitamin b 17. Sprouts of alfalfa are very good for your kidneys. They help prevent kidney stones from forming in the kidneys which may lead to other health complications.
Leaves
Leaves of eucalyptus and alfalfa has high levels of vitamin B17. Also spinach leaves have high levels of this vitamin. Spinach leaves contain antioxidants that control diseases such as high blood pressure, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis. The antioxidants that spinach has include selenium, manganese, vitamin E, beta-carotene and zinc.
Beans
Beans also contain vitamin B17. You can select different varieties of beans that contain this vitamin such as black, Lima or garbanzo. You can sprout or cook them to include in your diet.
Dosage of Vitamin B17
The recommended dose for vitamin B17 supplements is 25-100mg daily. Vitamin b 17 supplements are available in the form of injections, powder and tablets. Vitamin b supplements in the form of injections are more expensive as compared to its other forms. The vitamins supplement can be added to drinks or included in your daily diet.
For natural sources of vitamin B17, you need to eat seeds from fruits such as berries and apricots. To consume the raw seeds and nuts, you should do the following:
- You need a nutcracker or hammer to help you open the hard shell. Once you have done that, look for the kernel or seed. Then determine the right dosage to eat. According to medical studies, if you are eating apricot seeds for overall health, you need to eat about 10 to 12 seeds daily. Those people with cancer need to eat many seeds a day; they have to eat about 50 seeds daily.
- Since seeds may vary, you should aim at 7 grams of apricot seeds daily. For cancer, you need about 16 kernels per day. You can increase your consumption such that you are able to eat 3 grams or five seeds each hour. For example if your daily dose is 10 seeds, you can eat five in the morning and the reaming in the afternoon. This will be beneficial for people who experience nausea when taking apricot seeds. Also remember to take a glass of water to wash down the seeds or kernels.1,2
Side Effects of Vitamin B17
Consuming vitamin B17 can cause the following side effects2:
- People using this vitamin complain of feeling weak, headache and nausea. Fortunately, these side effects can be managed when you take orange juice, lemon or grapefruit.
- Other side effects that some people may experience include skin irritation and dizziness. Since vitamin b 17 contain cyanide, consuming excess of vitamin b 17 may increase the amount of cyanide in your body which is harmful to your health. Excess cyanide may lead to fever, convulsion, and low blood pressure, damage to your liver and nerves and even death. When you experience these symptoms avoid eating raw carrots, almonds and peaches because they worsen the symptoms.
If you are planning to use vitamin B17 supplements, consult a health professional so that you are able to deal with the side effects of this vitamin.
Reference list
- Vitamin B17. http://www.livestrong.com/article/340602-vitamin-b17/
- http://www.onlymyhealth.com/health-slideshow/six-natural-sources-of-vitamin-b-seventeen-you-must-include-in-your-diet-1466421480.html
- http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/vitamin-b17-benefits-4721.html
- http://www.dailyhealthmagazine.com/vitamin-b17/
- http://www.livestrong.com/article/22128-vitamin-b17-benefits/
- Vitamin B17. Available at http://www.vitaminb17.org/foods.htm