The American diet has changed drastically in the last fifty years. Although many tout the availability of pre-packaged foods, the longer shelf-life, and the more appealing appearance of foods as a positive step, essential nutrients like vitamin B-12 may be lost. Chemicals, additives, and the entire process in which food progresses as it travels from farm to table, strips it of the most useful vitamins and minerals each of our bodies need. But this is not the only reason so many of us suffer from a lack of B-12.

Recent research and a rash of new medical conditions have encouraged us to really look at what we are eating, and what is in our food. Many of us have decided to become vegan, and eliminate animal, fish, and dairy products from our diets. Although this process can be beneficial in some ways, veganism is widely know to cause vitamin B-12 deficiency since dairy, fish, and animal proteins are the main source of this vitamin in our diet.

As we age, the lowering of vitamin B-12 is common, and can be exacerbated by inadequate stomach acid. This acid is required to liberate B-12 from foods, and carry it throughout the body so it can be utilized most efficiently. Folks over fifty are the largest consumers of acid reducers, proton pump inhibitors, and other medications that reduce the amount of stomach acid. However, use of these pain relievers cause the reduction of the essential stomach acid, and therefore less B-12 availability.

Diabetes is on the rise, and the medications used to treat this common disease can affect how well your body absorbs vitamin B-12.  Other conditions that can affect the availability and utilization of B-12 are gastritis, Chron’s disease, Celiac disease, pernicious anemia, and surgical removal of a portion of the stomach or small intestine, like bariatric surgery. Because vitamin B-12 is essential to cognitive and neurological functions of the body, a reduction can cause serious secondary conditions that left untreated, may become life threatening. Considered the “invisible epidemic” by a growing number of experts, vitamin B-12 deficiency is becoming more researched, and better treated.  Because a lack of B-12 mimics several other conditions, low levels of vitamin B-12 are not an early consideration for many of us.

By far, the most common reason for B-12 deficiency is poor diet. Consuming less processed foods and eating more organic foods from local growers and farmers is the best way to maintain a healthy level of vitamin B-12. Making sure to enjoy a wide variety of foods is also essential, since the protein-bound B-12 utilizes this mechanism to travel throughout the body. Fruits, vegetables, fish, lean meats, and whole grains provide the greatest defense against a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Couple that with the knowledge of the importance of this hormone, and you have a great start on maintaining healthy levels of vitamin B-12. Adding a good quality vitamin B-12 supplement to your diet is an excellent way to ensure you are getting precisely what you need. Your health depends on it.

Cobalimin deficiency. Although this condition may not sound familiar to you by its clinical name, you may recognize the common term: vitamin B12 deficiency.  So what is it? And how do you know if you have it?

Vitamin B12 is essential to the human body and controls many important functions including working with the B vitamin folate to create the genetic material of our bodies. This powerhouse also assists in keeping homocysteine, an amino acid that helps decrease the risk of heart disease, in check. The creation of red blood cells depend on vitamin B12 as an essential element of its production, and these cells are the vehicle that carries oxygen to the body’s tissues.

Although not necessarily life threatening in the short term, lack of B12 may cause permanent damage to nervous tissue if it is left untreated indefinitely. There are many causes leading up to an insufficient level of B12 including atrophic gastritis, pernicious anemia, celiac disease, Chron’s disease, surgery, acid-reducing drugs, lupus, Graves’ disease, and even excessive alcohol consumption. Vegetarians may also experience this deficiency since animal products provide the best source of B12. Since heart disease remains the leading killer of adults in theUnited States, correcting low levels of B12 can become a very important step in taking control of your health.

An important study completed by the Tufts University Framingham Offspring Study found that nearly forty percent of adults between the ages of 26 and 83 have B12 levels in the low normal range. Surprisingly, low levels were just as common in younger folks as those that are considered elderly. Those issues we consider normal in adults over sixty years of age, like decreased mobility, memory loss, and cognitive decline, may actually be attributable to low levels of vitamin B12.

So why is it so difficult for many of us to discover a vitamin B12 deficiency? Well, it is very easy to miss the signs of vitamin B12 deficiency since the symptoms may be similar to other seemingly non-related conditions. Developmental disorders, multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, many forms of mental illness, autism, cancer, infertility in both men and women, and autoimmune disease may all mimic vitamin B12 deficiency.

A prolonged period of vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, and may present in many ways as the anemia worsens. A sore tongue, pale thin skin, bleeding gums, easy bruising or bleeding, diarrhea, constipation, rapid heartbeat, light-headedness, weakness, fatigue, stomach upset, and weight loss are all signs that you may be at risk for low levels of B12. Although these are not the only symptoms, they are the most common when diagnosing a deficiency of this essential vitamin.

So what do you do if you believe you may suffer from this condition? Take heart, pun intended, and know that a vitamin B12 deficiency can be corrected with the right treatment regimen, and early detection. Let’s get started!

Congratulations on taking control of your health, and making the decision to add a vitamin B12 supplement to your daily regimen. Researching the best kind of vitamin B12 can be confusing, but armed with the right information, you can make the right decisions on taking this all-important vitamin. Now you can choose which is the best form of B12 to use.

There are numerous types that claim to be vitamin B12, but you must be very careful not to simply use the first option you find. In fact, there is only one form that should be used in the vast majority of cases: Methylcobalamin. At this point you may be thinking “That seems simple enough. I’ll just ask for that”. Not quite as easy as it seems as there are literally hundreds of options on the market.

There is a generic term for the class of compounds known as Cobalimins. What are Cobalamins? Vitamin B12. But there are many forms and types of Cobalamin, including cyanocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, and methylcobalamin. But not all of them are created equal, and there is definitely a best choice. Making the correct choice is critical to improving your health.

Hands down, the best choice is methylcobalimin. Why? This form of B12 is technically a ‘coenzyme’ of the vitamin and is superior due to its effectiveness, availability, price point, and choice of applications. Folks who tend to avoid needles may get this in a sublingual formulation, and those who prefer an injectable have that option. Methylcobalimin also provides many benefits that are not available with the other types of Cobalimins, especially with regard to degenerative neurologic problems. In fact, it is one of the only promising treatments for these types of illnesses. It is the form found in our foods, and is more readily available for the body to utilize. Another little known benefit is that mehylcobalamin helps remove toxins from the body, and helps guard against harmful environmental pollutants. Children with autism respond particularly well to this type of vitamin B12 as they may suffer from methylation detoxification problems. Surprisingly, however, it is the least prescribed form of vitamin B12 due to the newness of the research and the lack of widely available information.

The worst choice? Cyanocobalamin. This form must be used in higher doses to get the same effectiveness as methylcobalimin, and is completely ineffective in many cases. Some medical experts, like Dr. AG Freeman in 1970, highly recommended that cyanocobalamin be removed from the market permanently because of its lack of positive attributes. The most disturbing fact is that this is the most common form of vitamin B12 prescribed in theUnited States.

Finally, hydroxocobalamin is the vitamin B12 that is more effective than cyanocobalamin, but not nearly as much as the hylcobalimin. It is typically prescribed when the availability is in question, or there is little knowledge of other options on the market.

Take control of your own health by making the best choice for vitamin B12. After all, your well being depends on it!

There are many benefits of taking vitamin B-12 supplements, especially when you learn you may have a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Many people take a B-12 supplement as part of their daily vitamin regimen to ensure they are maximizing their health and aiding in their body functioning at its peak. Known as the “energy” vitamin, B-12 has experience a surge in popularity the last few years as more and more people learn of the benefits of taking it. But what exactly does a vitamin B-12 supplement do?

First, B-12 aids in digestion. Because it is a protein-bound vitamin, it attaches to proteins as they travel through the digestive tract to ensure their absorption by the body. B-12 also assists in clearing the path of the intestines so that toxins and other non-essentials are removed from the body. People with Crohn’s disease find this especially beneficial, as they tend to be extra sensitive to the elimination process.

Heart disease remains the number one killer of adults in the U.S., and more and more people are learning of the benefits of vitamin B12 in protecting against it. B12 can curb, and even improve, unhealthy cholesterol levels, while also protecting against related conditions such as high blood pressure, and even stroke. The second biggest killer is cancer of varying types, and vitamin B12 assists in the prevention of lung, breast, prostate, and colon cancers. Are you starting to see the immense benefits of B12?

We’re just getting started.

The central nervous system is the key to managing the functions of the human body, and vitamin B12 is essential in keeping it running smoothly. Depression, shrinking of the brain, and even stress are reduced when proper levels of vitamin B-12 are maintained.

Vitamin B-12 improves energy levels, and has a long history of providing a boost for those suffering from fatigue. The mechanism for this is complex, but put simply; vitamin B-12 helps remove toxins from the body, and keeps the central nervous system running consistently. It is necessary to help the body convert carbohydrates into usable glucose, which is at the core of the body’s energy stores. This combination allows folks to feel more energetic, but it does not happen as quickly as many manufacturers of B-12 claim. The replacement of lost B-12, and recovery of those organs and functions of the body it affects take varying amounts of time. Increased energy is a big advantage, but typically is not experienced instantly.

Next, this essential vitamin aids in the reproductive process by increasing the motility of sperm in men, and stabilizing homocysteine levels in women. Increasing levels of B-12 have helped many couples overcome infertility, and significantly lowered the incidence of miscarriage when they do become pregnant. Since vitamin B-12 is safe to take before, during, and after conception, it is becoming one of the most widely utilized vitamins during couples of childbearing age.

More and more people are choosing a vegan and vegetarian lifestyle, and as a result are experiencing lower levels of B12. If these levels drop too low, they can create a deficiency, which can manifest as a host of health problems. Because vitamin B12 can be found primarily in animal and dairy based foods, eliminating these forms of protein can cause a risk to vegans. Taking a vitamin B12 supplement can help replenish the necessary levels, and ensure each persons bodily needs are being met.

Let’s not forget how “beautiful” vitamin B12 can be. This powerhouse is essential in skin cell renewal, which prevents us from looking old before our time. Healthy hair, skin, and nails can all be traced back to proper levels of B12 in the body. Move over fancy face creams and pricey hair potions!

Finally, vitamin B12 supplements can aid in the production of the hormone melatonin. Since the discovery of melatonin in the late 1950’s, researchers have learned that it regulates many of the other hormones of the human body. Most notably, melatonin regulates our circadian rhythm; the 24-hour patterns that keep our bodies on schedule. The daily release of this hormone is stimulated by darkness, and prepares our bodies for rest. Once the body is rested, melatonin preps the body for waking and light, and provides us regulation for the remainder of the day. When vitamin B12 levels are low, melatonin levels can become low and greatly affect the daily cycle of life.

There are many benefits of taking a vitamin B12 supplement in addition to these that we have listed. However, these are the most widely researched and accepted, and provide great reasons for each of us to take B12. What are you waiting for?