The Missing Link in Metabolism:
What We’re Learning About Vitamin B1
Over the past several months, Kathryn has been diving deeply into the research around metabolism and vitamin B1.
What follows is a closer look at what she’s been learning, exploring, and beginning to apply in practice.
What follows is a closer look at what she’s been learning, exploring, and beginning to apply in practice.
Over the past several months, I’ve been spending a significant amount of time studying metabolism more deeply. What started as curiosity—watching how different people responded to Balance + Burn—quickly turned into something much bigger.
Some people were seeing incredible results. Weight loss, inches lost, visible change.
Others… not so much.
And that didn’t sit right with me.
Because I could see that the program was working. I could feel that it was working in my own body. But there were moments where it felt like something wasn’t fully activating.
Some people were seeing incredible results. Weight loss, inches lost, visible change.
Others… not so much.
And that didn’t sit right with me.
Because I could see that the program was working. I could feel that it was working in my own body. But there were moments where it felt like something wasn’t fully activating.
My personal experience
I started the Balance + Burn program in January 2026.
My experience was not immediate weight loss. Instead, I found myself craving more sugar, dealing with some gut discomfort, and feeling more irritable than I expected. People were telling me I looked slimmer, but internally it felt like my metabolism was sluggish—like my body was trying to shift, but not fully getting there.
That’s what pushed me to start digging deeper.
After weeks of research—reading, listening, studying—I kept coming back to one thing over and over again:
Vitamin B1.
My experience was not immediate weight loss. Instead, I found myself craving more sugar, dealing with some gut discomfort, and feeling more irritable than I expected. People were telling me I looked slimmer, but internally it felt like my metabolism was sluggish—like my body was trying to shift, but not fully getting there.
That’s what pushed me to start digging deeper.
After weeks of research—reading, listening, studying—I kept coming back to one thing over and over again:
Vitamin B1.
Why B1 matters more than most people realize
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) plays a fundamental role in how the body creates energy.
At the most basic level, it acts as a cofactor in the process that converts carbohydrates into usable cellular energy (ATP). It is deeply involved in mitochondrial function, nervous system regulation, and how the body manages fuel.
In other words: If B1 isn’t available in the amount your body needs, the entire system slows down.
You can be eating well, supporting your metabolism, and doing all the right things.
But your body still struggles to respond—because it doesn’t have what it needs to actually use that fuel.
At the most basic level, it acts as a cofactor in the process that converts carbohydrates into usable cellular energy (ATP). It is deeply involved in mitochondrial function, nervous system regulation, and how the body manages fuel.
In other words: If B1 isn’t available in the amount your body needs, the entire system slows down.
You can be eating well, supporting your metabolism, and doing all the right things.
But your body still struggles to respond—because it doesn’t have what it needs to actually use that fuel.
Functional deficiency: why this is happening now
Severe B1 deficiency is well documented. It’s associated with conditions like beriberi and neurological disorders and is relatively rare in developed countries. But what’s becoming more important in current research is something different: Functional deficiency.
This is when the body doesn’t have enough B1 to meet its demands—even if levels appear “normal” on standard testing. And based on everything I’ve studied, I believe this is far more common than we realize because modern life places a significant demand on the body’s metabolic system.
B1 is used quickly, and many factors either deplete it or increase the need for it, including:
When demand increases and supply doesn’t keep up, the body adapts—but not in the best way because as energy drops, systems slow down and the body becomes less responsive.
This is when the body doesn’t have enough B1 to meet its demands—even if levels appear “normal” on standard testing. And based on everything I’ve studied, I believe this is far more common than we realize because modern life places a significant demand on the body’s metabolic system.
B1 is used quickly, and many factors either deplete it or increase the need for it, including:
- high carbohydrate intake
- stress
- environmental toxins
- medications
- poor absorption
- alcohol use
- and overall metabolic strain
When demand increases and supply doesn’t keep up, the body adapts—but not in the best way because as energy drops, systems slow down and the body becomes less responsive.
What B1 influences in the body
What surprised me most in my research was how widespread the impact of B1 actually is.
It supports:
It is a foundational nutrient, and when I started supporting my body with B1, everything shifted.
It felt like my brain was finally firing the way it was supposed to. My energy increased, my focus became clearer, and the inflammation that I’ve dealt with for years began to settle. One of the most noticeable changes for me was the swelling around my ankles—it finally went away.
It was as if the Balance + Burn program could finally activate the way it was meant to.
That was the moment it really clicked that this wasn't just a helpful addition but personally —and potentially for many others—this was the missing piece.
It supports:
- mitochondrial energy production
- glucose metabolism and blood sugar regulation
- nervous system function and stress response
- brain health, mood, and cognitive clarity
- inflammation and tissue oxygenation
- gut motility and digestion
- cardiovascular function
It is a foundational nutrient, and when I started supporting my body with B1, everything shifted.
It felt like my brain was finally firing the way it was supposed to. My energy increased, my focus became clearer, and the inflammation that I’ve dealt with for years began to settle. One of the most noticeable changes for me was the swelling around my ankles—it finally went away.
It was as if the Balance + Burn program could finally activate the way it was meant to.
That was the moment it really clicked that this wasn't just a helpful addition but personally —and potentially for many others—this was the missing piece.
How we’re using this in practice
Based on what I’ve learned, I’m now recommending a highly absorbable form of B1—TTFD (Thiamax)—to many of our clients, especially those who feel like their metabolism isn’t fully responding.
This form is designed for efficient cellular uptake and is able to cross into the brain and nervous system more effectively than standard forms. It’s not something everyone needs immediately. But for the right person, at the right time, it can be incredibly impactful.
If you are:
This may be worth exploring.
This form is designed for efficient cellular uptake and is able to cross into the brain and nervous system more effectively than standard forms. It’s not something everyone needs immediately. But for the right person, at the right time, it can be incredibly impactful.
If you are:
- supporting your metabolism
- making consistent lifestyle changes
- and still feeling like your body isn’t fully responding
This may be worth exploring.
Have additional questions? Connect with our team at (248) 656-2063.