How to Add More Niacin to Your Diet

Niacin, also known as Vitamin B3, is a nutrient which all animals require in order to live. In human beings, niacin is responsible for the proper function of bodily cells and the efficient reproduction of DNA, which is a crucial process. It has also been shown to significantly lower cholesterol levels in clinical studies. Luckily, good ways of adding niacin to our diet are relatively easy to find. Here's a list of the best ways to do so.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Add more vegetables to your diet. The following are all great sources of niacin: leafy green vegetables (the greener, the better); broccoli; carrots; sweet potatoes; asparagus and avocados.
2. Snack on seeds, nuts and whole grains. All of those foods are extremely high in niacin. So the next time you're craving a salty snack, instead of reaching for a bag of potato chips, grab a bag of sunflower seeds. You will satisfy your craving and do yourself a healthy favor at the same time.
3. Know that mushrooms are another wonderful answer. They are full of niacin and are very healthy otherwise. Eating mushrooms is a wonderful way of upping your intake of this key nutrient.
4. Be aware that niacin is also found in large quantities in most types of meat and in seafood. This is particularly true of organ meats. Adding lean cuts of meat or fish to your diet is another good way of ensuring that you're getting enough niacin.
5. Add a multivitamin to your regimen. Most multivitamins have sufficient daily amounts of niacin for the average human being.

Tips & Warnings

• Niacin is a great supplement to take if you have high cholesterol, as it helps a great deal in lowering "bad" cholesterol levels. In order to take it for this purpose, purchase a "slow" niacin supplement.
• Many people have adverse reactions to high doses of niacin. This is especially true of fair-skinned people. It's wise, then, to consult a medical professional before starting a niacin regimen that exceeds the FDA's recommended daily value.