Thiamine, usually referred to as Vitamin B1, is a B-complex vitamin. Some foods naturally contain thiamine, while others have it added and it can also be purchased as a nutritional supplement. This vitamin is essential for energy metabolism and consequently for cell growth, development, and function. One of the elements that our current food production method is most likely to destroy is vitamin B1. Every stage of the process, from storage to refining and cooking, results in a significant loss of the foods vitamin B1 level.