Facts about Vitamin B-12 and is it Essential to Stay Healthy?
Today my friends, I decided today to discuss a very important vitamin–B12 which is essential to maintain good health, in fact a B12 deficiency left untreated could be fatal. I am going to give you as much information about B12 as I can mustard up.We certainly don’t want any unnecessary health problems if we can avoid them. So keep your ears open and eyes pealed to the screen.
What is B12 and What does it do for our Bodies?
Vitamin B12 is crucial for the proper formation of red blood cells, as well as the health of nerve tissue. Vitamin B12 deficiency if left untreated can result in anemia, as well as irreversible nerve and brain damage.
Apart from creating red blood cells and keeping our nervous system healthy, we also need vitamin B12 in order to be able to absorb folic acid. Vitamin B12 also helps to release energy.
Because B12 plays a crucial role in turning carbohydrates, protein and fat into energy, it is necessary to have adequate levels of B12 to extract energy from the food we eat. It also protects brain cells and affects our state of mind.
How do we get B12 & What causes B12 deficiency?
Vitamin B12 occurs naturally in animal products, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, milk products, and fortified breakfast cereals. B12 is first made by yeasts and microorganisms so it is also present in fortified nutritional yeast, fortified soy milks, and nutrient bars. A vegan diet can produce a deficiency unless one uses supplements or eats enriched food.
Symptoms of B12 Deficiency and Some Serious Consequences!
A deficiency of vitamin B12 can manifest itself as depression, mania, chronic fatigue, poor sleep, lack of concentration and more. Without enough B12, our health and energy levels suffer.
Ignoring how B12 affects our moods is a grave mistake. One 2003 Finnish study noted that those with higher serum B12 levels were more likely to overcome depression and others studies have verified the connection between depression and B12 deficiency.
The great thing about vitamin B12 is its balancing effect—it increases energy, but it also calms the system.
In general psychiatric symptoms that occurred from deficiency of B12 are thought to be reversible when vitamin B12 has been repleted.
B12 status may be associated with the onset and cause of Alzheimer’s disease.
A lack of vitamin B12 in the blood can lead to a blood disorder called Biermer’s Disease or pernicious anemia. It is characterized by anemia, gastrointestinal, and neurological symptoms. This is an autoimmune disease -the person’s own immune system attacks good parts of the body, as if they were bacteria or viruses. Those with the disorder are unable to produce enough of a protein substance -IF (intrinsic factor) in their stomach that allows their body to absorb vitamin B12. Intrinsic factor is a substance that is secreted by the gastric mucous membrane (lining of the stomach) and is vital for the absorption of vitamin B12 in the intestines. If the production of intrinsic factor is compromised, vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed into the body properly.
To treat Pernicious Anemia Vitamin B12 is injected straight into the patient’s blood, therefore bypassing the stomach which is unable to absorb it properly. If left untreated for too long it can cause permanent damage to the nervous tissue and is usually fatal within 3 years. If detected it can be treated successfully, but not cured.
I truly hope you have gained valuable knowledge from this information, will be cautious and make sure you are not deficient in Vitamin B12. The consequences are not only affect us physically but emotionally. To achieve optimal health we must balance out our bodies and mind.
Quote of the Day: We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit! – Aristotle
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