In this article, you’ll learn and discover the top 10 vitamin B1 foods and their benefits.

Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is a water-soluble vitamin commonly found in most foods.

Like most B vitamins, thiamine plays a role in how our body uses energy from food and is vital for cellular function.

Thiamine helps the body convert carbohydrates to energy which is important for metabolism, focus, and strength.

Thiamine B1 deficiency is caused by consuming a diet low in animal products and overconsumption of alcohol.

The most common vitamin B1 deficiency symptoms include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Gut issues
• Muscle wasting
• Neurological degeneration

It also plays a role in healthy liver function and is needed for healthy skin, eyes, hair, and nails. Most foods are a good source of thiamine. The RDA for thiamine is 1.2 mg/day for men and 1.1 mg/day for women. The Daily Value is 1.5mg.

Check out these top 10 Vitamin B1 Foods.

Top 10 Vitamin B1 Foods

1) Green Peas

1 cup: 0.386 mg (26% DV)

2) Asparagus

1 cup: 0.19mg (13% DV)

3) Brussels Sprouts

1 cup: 0.122 mg (8% DV)

4) Sesame Seeds

2 Tbsp: 0.142 mg (9% DV)

5) Sunflower seeds

¼ cup: 0.17 mg (11% DV)

6) Pistachios

1 oz: 0.247 mg (16% DV)

7) Herring

1 filet: 0.105 mg (7% DV)

8) Crimini mushrooms

1 cup: 0.068 mg (4.5% DV)

9) Ground flaxseed

1 Tbsp: 0.115 mg (8% DV)

10) Spinach

1 bunch: 0.265 mg (18% DV)

Top Health Benefits of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Thiamine deficiencies are relatively rare since the vitamin is plentiful in most foods. Still, a deficiency can cause Beriberi, the symptoms of which include heart failure, muscle weakness, confusion, and a burning sensation in the hands and feet.

Eye Health
Thiamine may help reduce the risk of cataracts by working with omega-3 and omega-6 fats to improve eye health.  Also, consider adding more vitamin A-rich foods to your diet to improve your vision.

Alzheimer’s disease
Lack of thiamine can cause confusion in dementia. This is especially common in alcoholics who lose a lot of B vitamins due to dehydration and improper diet. Elderly people with Alzheimer’s disease also tend to have lower levels of thiamine in the blood than those without the disease.

But, at this point, the exact connection between thiamine levels and the development of Alzheimer’s disease is still unclear. Administration of thiamine to Alzheimer’s patients has improved cognitive abilities.