vitamin G

English

Alternative forms

• Vitamin G

Etymology

In the literal vitamin sense, G is the initial of Joseph Goldberger, involved in its discovery. In later figurative senses, G is the initial of the referent.

Noun

vitamin G (uncountable)

1. (dated) vitamin B₂ or riboflavin.
2. (informal) time spent in nature, in a garden or greenspace, as a health benefit
   • 2006 June 7, Peter P Groenewegen, Agnes E van den Berg, Sjerp de Vries3 and Robert A Verheij "Vitamin G: effects of green space on health, well-being, and social" BMC Public Health vol. 6 no. 149 →DOI

     The briefest summary of our program is in its title: Vitamin G, where G stands for the green space around us. Notions of beneficial effects of nearby green space have persisted throughout history.

   • 2021 April 16, Olivia Heath, "The RHS shares 5 ways to get your dose of Vitamin G – and you don’t even need to have your own garden" House Beautiful

     There are dozens of ways to connect with nature, and you don’t even need to have your own garden to get your Vitamin G.

3. (humorous, Ireland) Guinness stout
   • 2011 December 11, "New York; Bars; The Wren" Time Out

     With Krissy Harris (former head bartender at Gramercy Tavern) overseeing the bar program, drinkers may be tempted to set Guinness aside for cocktails ... Of course, Vitamin G loyalists can still find the stuff on tap

   • 2023 March 14, Anthony Chapman "ALE STORM Cheltenham Festival punters forced to pay out staggering amount for pint of Guinness… one of most expensive in WORLD" The Sun (UK)

     ...a pint of Guinness at the Cheltenham Festival costs a mind-boggling £7.50. That makes it one of the most expensive pints of "Vitamin G", as it's dubbed, in the world.