9 Things to Know about B12

9 Things to Know about B12

It’s always best to get the vitamins and minerals you need from eating a healthy diet. However, work and family responsibilities can make it almost impossible to eat right every day. Liquid vitamins for women are a smart way to make sure your body is properly nourished no matter how busy you get. All essential vitamins are important for good health, but vitamin B12 provides several benefits you may not know about.

Why do We Need Vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is essential for the formation of healthy red blood cells, the production of DNA, cell metabolism, and maintaining nerve function. It is a water-soluble vitamin and is part of your body’s natural detoxing system.

For most people, getting adequate amounts of B12 through the food they eat is easy. However, vegans, vegetarians, those who follow a strict low-carb diet, and people with absorption issues may be deficient in B12.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a serious health issue that can lead to severe health problems. If untreated, vitamin B12 can cause:

  • Nerve damage
  • Anemia
  • Muscle weakness
  • Intestinal problems
  • Mood disturbances
  • Fatigue
  • Vision loss
  • Digestive problems
  • Heart palpitations
  • Dizziness/poor balance

Vitamin B12 deficiency is also associated with poor cognitive function and dementia. Learn more about this important nutrient with the following list.

1. The Minimum Recommended Amount

For adults, the recommended daily allowance of B12 is 2.4 mg. That seems straightforward, but how do you know if you’re getting 2.4 mg every day?

If you depend on diet alone to get all the vitamins and minerals your body needs, it’s difficult to know the exact amounts you are consuming. For example, to calculate your dietary intake of vitamin B12, it would require you to research how much B12 is in each serving of everything you eat during the day and then figure out how much of that B12 is actually absorbed by your body and how much is wasted.

2. It is Naturally Found in Animal Products

Vitamin B12 is abundant in animal products, especially:

  • Beef
  • Chicken
  • Fish
  • Eggs
  • Milk and milk products

The only animal product that does not contain this vital nutrient is honey.

3. Not All Forms of Vitamin B12 are Equal

A variety of seaweeds, including blue algae, contain B12. These sources are sometimes used to supplement vitamin levels in vegan diets. Unfortunately, most nutritional experts agree the nutrient cannot be properly absorbed in this form.

4. It Regulates Your Mood

Vitamin B12 helps produce important brain chemicals responsible for keeping a balanced mood. In fact, mood swings are one of the symptoms of a deficiency. People with stress, depression, and anxiety disorders should have their B12 levels checked. Taking a high-quality supplement may help keep hormones balanced and stabilize neuron function. Brains that are well-nourished are more capable of feeling positive emotions than brains that are malnourished.

5. If you’re Over 50, You May Need a Supplement

Elderly Americans are at high risk for vitamin B12 deficiencies. Our bodies become less able to absorb B12 from food sources as we age, and the digestive system’s supply of hydrochloric acid decreases. B12 deficiency is so common in people over 50-years of age that the Institute of Medicine recommends they take supplements or include plenty of B12 fortified foods in their diet.

6. Too Much Folate may Camouflage a B12 Deficiency

People who are diagnosed with megaloblastic anemia are commonly given large qualities of folic acid to correct the anemia. However, this can be problematic if the cause of the anemia is left undiscovered. Anemia is a common symptom of B12 deficiency, folic acid may reduce anemia, but it will not reduce the other symptoms of B12 deficiency, such as neurological damage and cognitive decline.

Before beginning a folic acid regimen to treat megaloblastic anemia, make sure you have had your B12 levels evaluated.

7. Keeps Hair and Skin Healthy

Cell reproduction is key to having healthy hair, skin, and nails, and B12 is essential for cell reproduction. B12 also helps give you thick, shiny hair by improving the circulation in your scalp. If your skin, hair, or nails are looking drab, or if you’ve noticed inflammation and cracking around the corners of your mouth, these could be signs you need more B12.

8. Liquid B12 Supplements are Easier to Absorb

Most people eat a diet that provides adequate amounts of vitamin B12, and incorporating fortified cereals into the diet is easy if needed. The problem isn’t finding sources for B12, the problem is absorbing enough to maintain healthy levels. Liquid vitamins are the best option for quick and efficient absorption.

9. Choose B12 Liquid Vitamins for Women who are Pregnant

Pregnant women need a daily dose of 2.6 mcg of B12, and nursing moms need 2.8 mcg. The old saying “eating for two” is more than just an excuse to let pregnant women indulge in their favorite foods. Like many other nutrients, B12 crosses through the placenta to support the proper development of the nervous system. After birth, babies continue to depend on vitamin B12 through breastmilk or formula.

If you are pregnant, it may be necessary to increase the amount of vitamin B12 you are consumed by eating more foods high in the vitamin or by taking a high-quality supplement. Because liquid vitamins are absorbed more quickly,

Learn More about Liquid Vitamins for Women

Liquid vitamin B12, and other liquid vitamins, offer several advantages over supplements that come in pill or capsule formulas. Not only are they easier for the body to absorb, but it is also easy to find liquid supplements in synergistic formulas. For example, at Nutz About Health! you can find pure liquid B12 Energy formula, B12 combined with zinc and vitamin C, and a liquid multi-vitamin that includes B12.

NAH! liquid vitamins also provide flexibility in dosage--no more trying to cut your vitamin tablets in half. They are gluten-free, non-GMO, and made from the most wholesome foods on the planet. If you're showing signs of B12 deficiency, liquid B12 from NAH! could help improve your mood, increase your energy and help you feel healthier no matter what stress the day brings.

Back to blog