B12 Supplements
Recently, B12 supplements have surged in popularity. Are there valid reasons behind it or is it another fad?
The answer is this is by no means a fad. B12 is actually necessary for you to make blood and energy.
A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause low energy levels, fatigue, poor memory, lack of hunger, and soreness of the tongue and mouth. If left untreated, the consequences can be deadly.
I don’t know if it is correct or not, but I read on one site that fifteen thousand people die a year from being B12 deficient. When you don’t get enough, the result is anemia due to your blood not working and replicating properly. However there’s no way to know for sure whether or not you are not getting enough unless you see a doctor. Therefore do not take what is said here as a tool to do so, because it’s not. You should never try and treat yourself; that should only be done under the instruction of a professional.
Do I get enough B12?
Another point to make is that most of us get our required intake of B12 through eating. It is a water-soluble vitamin that is found in things like shellfish, cheese, milk, and meat. If you don’t eat these (i.e. you’re a vegan) then you will need B12 supplements in some form to get this essential nutrient.
Also it is said that the human liver stores several years worth of this nutrient, so it’s uncommon for a healthy person to not get enough. That being said, it is processed through digestion. Hydrochloric acid separates the B12 from the protein and absorbs it. But if you have something known as pernicious anemia you may not be able to absorb enough. Or if you have abnormalities with organs in the tract, you also may not get enough. It has been said that up to thirty percent of older people do not metabolize it properly.
Even if you do get enough, many people swear by the benefits of increasing their intake. Most energy drinks and supplements on the market include this as a primary ingredient for this alleged benefit.
Using B12 Supplements For Deficiency
If you aren’t getting enough or your body isn’t metabolizing enough, your doctor can recommend to you any of the various supplements on the market. Nowadays you can purchase B12 vitamins in many different forms. Many people favor the forms which have a reportedly higher absorption rate, like liquid B12 and the B12 patch.
