Food Fighting and Disease Series: Beriberi

Food Fighting and Disease Series: Beriberi: Natalie Parker Culinary Medicine and Culinary Nutrition Beriberi is a disease caused by not consuming enough thiamine (vitamin B1).1 The role of thiamine (vitamin B1) in the body is metabolism - it helps cells grow and function.1 When the body does not get enough thiamine through diet or does not absorb thiamine (due to conditions like bariatric surgery, chronic alcoholism, or inability to absorb thiamine) it causes neuropathy (nerve damage that results in pain, weakness, and burning in extremities)2 and wasting.1 There are two main types of Beriberi - wet and dry.



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