Niacin Flush for detoxing and so much more!

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Niacin Flush- why do this on a detox 

Niacin is a very underrated B vitamin that gets put together in a B complex, and not many people are aware of how valuable the supplement is, especially the flushing variety. Many people are scared of the fact that it ramps up circulation. Believe it or not, there are Scientifically backed reasons why a Vitamin B3 niacin flush is beneficial for speeding up the detoxification process.

What is a niacin flush, and do you get it even when you aren't taking the supplement?

This can be experienced when you try a homemade Kombucha for the first time - you can sometimes experience flushed cheeks and get a bit tingly or lightheaded. 

This temporary sensation, called a niacin flush, usually lasts less than ten minutes in a food source… It is triggered by the extremely bioavailable and rapidly absorbed niacin (Vitamin B3) into the bloodstream. 

It can be exacerbated when you are dehydrated too- you may drink a glass of this beverage and you haven’t drunk enough water, and bam, a flush happens. It isn’t at all dangerous, although it can feel unnerving if you aren’t sure what is happening. 

 

So when you take a supplement of Niacin - the flush type, not the non-flush variety. You will probably experience it a bit more dramatically than a slight tingle. 

For me, I go bright red, all over, and to be honest, on cold days it is a very welcome heat. However, there are several health benefits to taking niacin, including helping with detoxification. But first, a bit more about what Niacin is.

Vitamin B3 is one of the eight water-soluble B Vitamins 

It is more commonly called niacin or nicotinic acid. This important nutrient facilitates the synthesis of sex and stress-related hormones in the body by the adrenal glands and other parts of the endocrine system.

Niacin is essential for maintaining cell function. It is a component of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) required by over 100 enzymes involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and alcohol, as well as DNA repair and cell signalling. Therefore, tissues with a high energy requirement or cell turnover rate such as the skin, bowel, and brain are those affected by pellagra.

While it is relatively easy to meet the body’s requirements for niacin via diet alone, many people remain at least mildly deficient due to an imbalanced gut environment which impairs absorption from food and limits the synthesis of B3 via beneficial gut microbes.

Deficiency symptoms

Deficiency symptoms which most commonly present in those who consume too much alcohol and sugar, plus/or have impaired digestion, include:

  • Indigestion

  • Skin sores 

  • Fatigue

  • Vomiting

  • Poor circulation

  • Depression

  • Helps Decrease LDL Cholesterol and Triglycerides

  • Can Increase Good Cholesterol

  • Aids in Reducing the Hardening of the Arteries

  • Detoxes the Body

  • Aids Weight Loss

  • Helps Treat Pellegra

Symptoms of a Niacin Flush

People vary widely in the sensations experienced from including additional niacin in the diet. As little as 50 mg can cause a niacin flush in some people who are mildly deficient, while it may take significantly larger doses in others who maintain good overall Vitamin B3 status to experience the same effect.

For some the symptoms of a niacin flush can include a pleasant warming of the cheeks, prickliness in the extremities and mild light-headedness similar to what is experienced by drinking a glass of wine before dinner.

Hence, some people incorrectly assume that they are buzzed from the minute amount of alcohol in fermented beverages like kombucha, which is responsible for the niacin flush. In actuality, highly bioavailable B3 causes this reaction – not alcohol. 

Other niacin flush symptoms for severely deficient patients can be a little problematic. These include mild stomach pain and/or nausea, rapid heartbeat, skin itching, or rash.
If this is you, then drink lots of water when taking it. 

Plus, I have found if you struggle with initially taking niacin, have a small amount of milk (if you are not intolerant to it, that is), especially if you get a burning sensation in your gut, much like indigestion - this is often because of not drinking enough water with your tablet!  

If the mild vasodilation caused by a niacin flush is uncomfortable, a cold shower will quickly dissipate the sensations, which only lasts a few minutes if nothing is done.

Doing the niacin flush on our journey on the Ultimate Detox not only increases your levels of B3 it aids with our program.

The benefits of a niacin flush to boost detoxification efforts were described and published in 2005 in the Journal of Internal Medicine. Researcher L.A. Carlsen described using nicotinic acid to treat extremely high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia). He found that doses of niacin cause what is termed “rebound lipolysis” This involves initial inhibiting of the breakdown of fats for a short period followed by a detoxification rebound, causing a large and simultaneous release of triglycerides and toxic chemicals from the tissues. These toxins can then be expelled from the body via the gastrointestinal tract or the skin.

This is why taking just before a workout and/or Sauna is great.

Niacin flush is commonly used to help eliminate drugs from your system and so can help with many other toxins within your body, especially the fat cells Much research is underway to substantiate the healing properties of niacin for high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, diabetes, osteoarthritis, cataracts, and burns. Niacin Flush is believed to help with weight loss - although that is not why we are recommending this. So what I am saying is don’t be afraid of the Niacin flush - people may tell you that it lasts for hours - it might in those who are very low in this vital nutrient - if you have lots in your body, you might find that you need to take higher doses to attain the flush effect. 

BTW I heard about Niacin Flush in about 1996 and one of the practitioners I trained was using it as an anti-ageing tool - not sure if it worked as we fell out of touch.

However, it makes so much sense as it increases circulation - it has been used topically for this, but it makes sense to take it internally too. The more we detox the more efficiently our body will work, and then we will naturally become younger on the inside first and then gradually, you will appear younger to the outside world - well, this is what makes sense to me anyway. 

In conclusion, more research is needed better to understand the physiological benefits of niacin for physical conditions. The future promise of this amazing vitamin is already upon us. Vitamin B3 is considered by most to be the major B vitamin required for a healthy existence.