Sorry for the long hiatus. I've been ultra tired with this pregnancy (I'm tired anyhow with 2 toddlers) and it has fried my brain. Anytime I tried to write something, nothing would come to mind. So, having read an inspiring article from Dr. Mercola on B12..I am revived. I've been a fan of B12 for a while and after reading this article I'm off to buy some soon. My prenatal is a one daily and in my opinion doesn't have enough...for me at least!
So...let's run down some of B12 benefits and what it does in our bodies!
* proper digestion, food absorption, iron use, carbohydrate and fat metabolism
* healthy nervous system function
* promotion of normal nerve growth and development
* helps with regulation of the formation of red blood cells
* cell formation and longevity
* proper circulation
* adrenal hormone production
* healthy immune system function
* support of female reproductive health and pregnancy
* feelings of well-being and mood regulation
* mental clarity, concentration, memory function
* physical, emotional and mental energy
Sounds like a pretty important vitamin, huh? This is why they give b12 shots to the elderly. Deficiency can cause a whole plethora of issues and can contribute to diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
But, a lot of us are deficient in B12 and have no idea. Especially vegetarians and vegans. B12 is found in meats and eggs..so if you don't eat those you're very likely not getting what you need. There are clear signs of deficiency-
1. mental fogginess
2. problems with your memory
3. mood swings
4. lack of motivation
5. feelings of apathy
6. fatigue and a lack energy
7. muscle weakness
8. tingling in your extremities
9. depression
10. pernicious anemia
11. sleep problems
Lack of B12 has also been connected to neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, cancer, and birth defects.
This is what really got me back on the B12 bandwagon. It's not just a lack of folic acid that can cause spinal bifida and such, but also a lack of B12! Infertility and repeated miscarriages can also be linked to a lack of B12.
And here's a little something for all you avid coffee drinkers out there. Coffee can reduce your B12 by up to 15%! Just another reason not to drink the stuff. Some day I'll write about my thoughts on coffee. Also, chronic heartburn or GERD can affect B12's absorption.
Not all B12 is equal. Sprays are the best, sublinguals are great too. And my favorite form is methylcobalamin which is the same form that the B12 shot is.
Hope this was informative and helpful!
1 comments:
Amanda - i must have an b12 deficiency... also pre-op I was very very low in vitamin D - what should I take to support that?
Great blog and article. Thanks, Mom
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