Vitamin B12 is necessary for humans to live healthy lives, but because it is not often found in plant foods, vegetarians and vegans are often short on B12. Chronic vitamin B12 deficiency can result in anemia that both reduces your body’s ability to absorb B12, and result in negative health states that may potentially affect other bodily systems.
Are You Getting Enough Vitamin B12
Describing vitamin B12 deficiency paints a scary picture, but helping to fill nutritional gaps can be easy as vitamin B12 supplements are commonly available. In fact, some governments require that certain foods be fortified with vitamins to help maintain public health and well being.
The result is that you may get all of the vitamin B12 you need from your morning bowl of cereal. There are other processed foods that while not typically associated with health, are fortified with vitamin B12 and other nutrients and minerals that people commonly don’t consume in sufficient quantity. If you’re concerned that you may be missing out on your daily B12 boost, this may solve your problem. If you don’t want to eat cereal or other fortified foods for whatever reason, there are other ways to get what you need.
Available Vitamin B12 Supplements
Vitamin B12 also comes in supplemental forms that are familiar to all. Pressed pills, vegetarian multivitamin tablets with contents taken from food sources, gummies, etc. You have only to go to a decently well-stocked supermarket and you’ll find one or more items that will suffice. There are a diverse array of supplements available through online retailers like ourselves, so learn about what you need and look around until you find something that works perfectly for you.
If you are not a vegan or vegetarian, vitamin B12 can be supplemented by eating the foods in which it is most prevalent. You may not eat a lot of cow livers or shellfish (clams, mussels, etc.), but these foods are jam-packed with B12. Properly prepared, these foods can be delicacies, so adding them to your repertoire for the occasional dinner or snack wouldn’t be a bad idea. For veggie lovers, there are some preparations of vegetables and legumes that make B12 available from these sources, through techniques known by experienced vegan cooks and practitioners.
Before Taking A Supplement
There are certain situations, however, where you should consult a doctor before supplementing vitamin B12. If you feel weak or tingly, or otherwise experience the symptoms associated with B12 deficiency, you should see a physician. As stated above, if you are chronically low on B12, your body may not even be able to absorb it like it used to. This can be determined conclusively by a physician, and fortunately, treatments are available.
Such treatments may include large doses of vitamin B12 delivered through injection, with additional supplementation at home. If other symptoms or conditions were present, the doctor may treat them separately. The important thing is to seek treatment as symptoms occur. It can be difficult to remember the vitamin factor when asking your doctor about feeling unwell. By asking your doctor about this and other deficiencies, the patient might find an end to their complaints.
It’s great to know that vitamin B12 is supplemented in so many forms. So long as you are getting this vitamin in your diet, it doesn’t matter how you get it. With a little knowledge and preparation, you’ll have no trouble getting the B you need through foods and supplements. Keep it up for life, and you and your body will both be glad you did so.
