Dr. Berg Table of Contents
Niacin has many benefits, but is a niacin flush harmful or dangerous?
Today we’re going to talk about the niacin flush and if it’s dangerous or not. The answer is no. I do not believe the niacin flush is harmful or dangerous.
With a niacin flush, you’re getting massive relaxation of the muscles inside your blood vessels (vasodilation). This occurs because niacin releases something called prostaglandins.
Prostaglandins are lipids or fat compounds that have a hormone effect. Prostaglandins increase vasodilation, help reduce blood pressure, and help blood clotting. Prostaglandins are also involved in headaches and fevers.
Niacin has been used therapeutically for over 50 years, and it is the most effective natural agent for increasing your HDL (the good cholesterol). It can also decrease LDL (the damaging LDL) and triglycerides. The keto diet and intermittent fasting may also help with a person’s cholesterol.
Here’s what you need to know.
Had a recent question from someone that wanted to know , is the niacin flesh harmful or dangerous ?
Is the niacin flush dangerous?
Well , the answer is no .
It is not harmful or dangerous .
What is a niacin flush?
What’s happening , you’re getting this massive relaxation of the muscles inside your blood vessels .
It’s called vasodilation .
And that’s occurring because niacin increases something called prostaglandins .
What are prostaglandins?
Now what is a prostaglandin ?
It’s a lipid or fat compound that has a hormone effect and prostaglandins increase vasodilation .
They help reduce blood pressure .
It helps blood clotting .
It’s also involved in headaches and fever .
This is why when you take an aspirin , which blocks prostaglandins , and it can reduce a fever .
So that’s really what’s happening when you’re getting this flushing red response .
Some people don’t like it .
They think it’s gonna damage something .
Some people like it .
I actually like it myself .
I like that flushing response , but it’s not dangerous at all .
What you need to know about niacin
The thing you need to know about niacin is that it therapeutically , it’s been used over 50 years , and it is the most effective natural agent for increasing your HDL , the good cholesterol , by 20 to 40% .
It also can decrease the LDL , specifically the small dense type , the damaging LDL , and it can has the potential to decrease your triglycerides .
Now , of course , if you did the ketogenic diet and you did intermittent fasting , that would help your cholesterol greatly .
But if you’re concerned about cholesterol , you should be on niacin for sure , but you would have to take higher amounts of it , 1 to 2000 milligrams a day .
Now if you take the type of niacin that is non flushing , it doesn’t have those cholesterol lowering benefits .
Now the other thing that niacin has been proven beneficial for is by reducing schizophrenia .
A person concerned about their cholesterol may need to take niacin in higher amounts (1000-2000mg per day). Keep in mind the type of niacin that is non-flushing doesn’t have cholesterol-lowering benefits. Niacin may also potentially help reduce schizophrenia.
There’s some great data on this .
I’m gonna put some links down below , but niacin has many other benefits , but these are 2 big benefits
