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”, in 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”, in 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”, in 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.