Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Vitamin B2
Functions and Sources
What food source is the nutrient found in?
Good sources of riboflavin include:
In the United States, milk products supply about half of the riboflavin that people get. Ultraviolet light, such as sunlight, destroys riboflavin. This is why milk is stored in opaque plastic or cardboard containers. Unlike other vitamins, riboflavin is not destroyed by cooking.
However, when grains are milled, or refined, most of the riboflavin and other nutrients are removed. This makes whole-grain foods, such as oatmeal and whole wheat, better choices. Enriched refined foods are also healthy choices because the riboflavin lost in refining has been added back in. Refined - but non-enriched foods, such as white rice, do not supply riboflavin in any significant amount. The content of riboflavin in some common foods is as follows:
How does the nutrient affect the body?
Riboflavin helps keep the body healthy in a number of ways, including the following:
The recommended daily allowances, called RDAs, for this nutrient are:
Several servings per day of riboflavin-rich foods are needed to meet requirements. Because riboflavin is found in so many foods, a balanced diet will usually provide enough.