Antidote for Teacher-Stress

A science teacher is summoned by her line manager and an occupational therapist, to a return-to-work interview. His/her employers are concerned about his/her high record of sickness days off.

Occupational Therapist: “...and the greatest vitamin you need for maximum performance/less days off your duty is ...” Science Teacher (replying presumptuously): Vitamin B1? Occupational Therapist: Could well be the case in your vocation. If you incorporate this into your daily meals, you would soon reduce your escalating sickness days-off.

Vitamin B1 is the first of the B category vitamins to be discovered. Vitamin B1 famously known as thiamine or thiamin. Thiamine (vitamin B1) is found in plant and animal foods which include: beans, peas, soybeans, lentils and other legumes, rice, oats, corn meal, barley, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, tortilla, yeast, organ meats, peanuts and other nuts, pork, meat, poultry, bran, as well as in other vitamin B complexes products.

Taking enough of Vitamin B1 foods, particularly at breakfast is important because it enables our body to withstand stressful conditions. A purposeful effort to eat foods from this category of vitamins would help you to function better at menial and mental jobs. Diets rich in vitamin B1 increase your energy levels, fights stress, prevents memory loss, enhances your ability to learn and and contributes to your achieving positive mental attitudes.

These days, breakfast foods such as cereals and bread are fortified with vitamin B1. Look out for this in the ingredients as listed on your food packaging.

Vitamin B1 works, like the other seven B vitamins. They help our bodies convert the carbohydrates in our foods into glucose. Glucose is the ‘fuel’ which our bodies use to derive energy. In addition to this, all the B vitamins help us break down protein and fats.

People living with issues like: Beriberi, Crohn’s disease, anorexia, alcoholism and on kidney dialysis, may lack enough thiamine in their system. Consequently, they may need treatment with thiamine, by their doctors or health care providers.

Vitamin B1 is also available as supplements. It can be found in over-the-counter multivitamin drugs for adults and children.

Have you got enough thiamine in your daily meals?