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Vitamin B12 |
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"Chicken" skin on upper arms Essential fatty acids Bleeding gums Vitamin C Carpal tunnel syndrome Vitamin B6 Cold hands Magnesium Dermatitis around nose Vitamin B6 Dry eyes Vitamin A Frequent colds Zinc and Vitamin C Hair loss Biotin, Zinc, and Essential fatty acids High blood pressure Magnesium and Coenzyme QIO Muscle cramps Magnesium Night blindness Zinc and Vitamin A Premature gray hair Vitamin B12 Red scaly skin on face Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) Reduced smell and taste Zinc Shaking hands Magnesium and Vitamin Bl Soft or brittle nails Magnesium Sugar cravings Chromium Thyroid swelling Iodine White spots on nails Zinc
Vitamin B12 is known as the “energy vitamin,” and it is essential for many critical functions in your body, including energy production, supporting your immune system, and helping to regulate the formation of red blood cells.* Recent studies from the US Framingham trial show that one in four adults in the US are deficient in this vitally important nutrient and nearly half of the population has suboptimal blood levels.
Vitamin B12 is present only in animal sources of food--which is one of the reasons I advise against being a strict vegetarian or a vegan. This deficiency can result in less than optimal nervous system function, a tendency toward nervousness, and even less-than-optimal eye health.*
Vitamin B12 helps folic acid regulate the formation of red blood cells, and helps your body use iron.
In addition, it is also needed for proper digestion, food absorption, carbohydrate and fat metabolism. It also helps keep your nervous system healthy by assisting the nerves of your body to function and communicate in an optimal manner.
B12 also helps in cell formation and cellular longevity. Plus, it can support female reproductive health, and promote normal nerve growth and development by maintaining the fatty sheaths. These fatty sheaths play a vital role as they cover and protect your nerve endings.
It is is critical to your circulation and adrenal hormone production -- plus, it helps boost your immunity.
Vitamin B12 supports a healthy mood and feelings of well-being.* And then there's this -- it also provides excellent support for your memory, mental clarity, and concentration.*
Aside from using B12 to give you an energy boost, when does it also make sense to supplement with this all-important vitamin? Well, there are several good reasons to take vitamin B12
Many people avoid red meats for a large variety of reasons. If you are one of them, you are at a high risk for developing vitamin B12 deficiency. Why? Because plant sources have virtually no vitamin B12. And oral forms of B12 in nearly all supplements are practically useless, as little is absorbed into your bloodstream.
Vegetarians should take this essential micronutrient to ensure an adequate supply of it, because it is found almost exclusively in animal tissues. And, the few plant foods that are sources of B12 are actually B12 analogs -- not the form that provides all the benefits of the real deal.
Simply put, an analog is a substance that blocks the uptake of true B12. The result being, your body's need for the nutrient actually increases.
Furthermore, your body's need for this nutrient may also increase if you take Metformin©. Metformin may interfere with calcium metabolism. And this interference may reduce B12 absorption, because this absorption requires calcium.
Studies suggest that 10% to 30% of patients taking Metformin show evidence of reduced vitamin B12 absorption. That's why it is important to speak with your doctor to discuss the best way to maintain B12 levels when taking this medication.
If you suffer from sleeping difficulties, I recommend taking vitamin B12 during the day. B12 plays a vital role in melatonin production.* Melatonin has been called "the sleep hormone" because it is responsible for letting you get a good night's sleep.
As you age, it becomes increasingly more difficult to get a good night's sleep because your body becomes less efficient at making this hormone. And that's why it's a good idea to take B12 to help you sleep like a baby each night.*
Moreover, a lack of adequate B12 can have other annoying consequences too.