The Importance Of Vitamin B-12
It’s easy to assume that our daily diet is enough to keep us going and healthy. However, some dietary deficiencies, such as insufficient Vitamin B-12, can go unnoticed.
If left untreated, a Vitamin B-12 deficiency can end up being nothing short of debilitating. Yet it’s hard to detect if you have too little because the symptoms of deficiency can feel like other diseases.
If you do not consume animal products, Vitamin B-12 deficiency is a genuine concern. Here’s what you need to know, and how to correct it.
Foods Rich in Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-12 is water soluble, so our bodies need a constant supply for health. This vitamin is found naturally and in abundance in animal proteins. Some foods high in B-12 include:
- Animal livers and kidneys
- Fish and seafood such as clams, oysters, octopus, mussels, crab, sardines, tuna, rainbow trout, salmon, herring, and haddock
- Beef cuts such as steak, or bison meat, which is high in protein and low in fat
- Lamb
- Fortified Cereals
- Nutritional Yeast
- Milk and Dairy products such as full-fat yogurt, cheese, and eggs
- Fortified Plant-Based (non-dairy) milk such as soy, almond, rice, and oat
What Causes Vitamin B-12 Deficiency?
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), most people in the United States get enough B-12 in their daily diet. However, those who have a primarily vegetarian or vegan diet can sometimes miss out on these essential nutrients because they do not consume foods derived from animals.
Vegans, in particular, must have their Vitamin B-12 levels checked regularly by their physicians or other healthcare professionals. This is especially crucial if they have not eaten fish, eggs, or meat for five years or longer.
Because Vitamin B-12 is usually found in animal-based-based proteins, it is not unusual for a physician to advise these vegans and vegetarians to take a dietary supplement that will provide it. Some health foods are fortified with synthetic B-12, like some plant-based milk brands.
Older adults can have trouble absorbing Vitamin B-12, as well as women pregnant or nursing, people with intestinal problems, or with autoimmune disorders like pernicious anemia. Sometimes the absorption problem is so severe that doctors will prescribe B-12 injections, but many doctors will try a 1000mcg supplement first.
Signs of Vitamin B-12 Deficiency
Vitamin B-12 is essential to keep our nerves healthy and in the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. Not getting enough vitamin B12 can damage your nerves and prevent the production of myelin which protects our peripheral nerve endings.
Damage to myelin affects the healthy movement of our hands, feet, arms, and legs. Over long periods, damaged myelin can cause conditions such as dementia, spinal cord degeneration, or myelopathy.
Some symptoms of this deficiency may include:
- Forgetfulness
- Inability to focus
- The feeling of being on pins and needles or numbness in the body
- Weakness
- Depression
- Lack of energy
- Rapid heart rate
- Ringing in the ears
If you feel a bit tired in the morning, an increased intake of Vitamin B-12 may be just the ticket for giving you the energy at the beginning of the day. It can also slow the decline of eye health and even help slow the progression of neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease.
An Example of Vitamin V-12 Deficiency
According to a recent report, a 28-year-old sub-Saharan woman was suffering painful burning sensations in her body and numbness and tingling in her hands and feet. This woman also suffered from weakness in her hands and feet, irritability, insomnia, and frequent bouts of constipation.
Doctors found the problem got progressively worse over five years. After a clinical laboratory evaluation, researchers found that a vitamin B12 deficiency was the culprit for this woman’s underlying symptoms.
Can You Recover From Vitamin B-12 Deficiency?
Yes, if you catch it soon enough. If the myelin gets too damaged, it can become irreversible to treat! Taking a Vitamin B-12 supplement daily for two months should be enough time to see serious improvement. You could feel some improvement in as little as three days.
If taking an oral supplement does not help you, have your doctor test your B-12 level and discuss taking injections. If you are already anemic or you’re noticing nerve problems, you may wish to do this first and then switch to an oral supplement for maintenance.
Introducing Sir Jason Winters B-12 Gummies
At Sir Jason Winters International, we are committed to providing the highest quality teas and supplements available on the market. We’re especially excited to introduce our new Sir Jason Winters Complete B-12 gummies!
Just two gummies daily with a meal gives you all the recommended intake of Vitamin B-12 that you might miss in your daily diet.
We are offering, for a limited time, our 60-count bottle of Sir Jason Winters Complete Vitamin B-12 Gummies, which are regularly priced at $24.50 for just $9.95 per bottle! You get an entire month’s supply at an incredibly low price. With this being a limited offer, why not order two or three bottles to have on hand?
After this introductory promotion, you can still save money when you reorder. You can save 5% off each order of our Complete B-12 Gummies by taking advantage of our convenient subscription service.
Simply decide if you want to receive your order once every two weeks or once a month, and we will deliver them straight o the door of your home, your office, or anywhere you choose,
Give yourself and those you love the gift of good health with Sir Jason Winters Complete Vitamin B-12 Gummies!
Disclaimer: The Statements made on this blog have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Please note that all information provided on this website is not intended to recommend, diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition or to replace the advice of a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. Do not exceed the recommended dose of this or any other Sir Jason Winters product. Please keep all dietary supplements out of the reach of children.
Resources
Chan, T. H. “The A-List for Vitamin B-12 Sources.” Harvard Health. 24 Aug. 2016. Web. 7 Oct. 2022.
Mindell, Earl, and Hester Mundis. Earl Mindell’s New Vitamin Bible. New York: Grand Central Life & Style, 2011. Print.
Schuster-Bruce, Catherine. “A Vitamin B12 Deficiency Can Go Unnoticed and Cause Symptoms like Numb Limbs and a Yellow Tinge to the Skin and Eyes. A Dietitian Explains How to Get Enough.” MSN. Web. 7 Oct. 2022.
