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Why Vitamin B12 Is Important

#SelfCare

By Nancy DPublished 5 years ago 2 min read
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Every time I get my blood taken, my doctor says the same thing to me, that I need to take vitamin B12 supplements. I do own B12 supplements, however I must admit I don't always remember to take them. Since journals are about reflecting personal health, I decided to take this opportunity to research and learn more about vitamin B12 deficiency. It turns out that is a lot more serious than I originally thought, especially in terms of mental health. "B12 deficiency can lead to deep depression, paranoia and delusions, memory loss, incontinence, loss of taste and smell, and more," according to Patrick J. Skerrett, who is a former Executive Editor at Harvard Health.

“The first wealth is health. “ – Emerson

So how can you get more vitamin B12?

According to Patrick J. Skerrett, there are two main ways. The first is to keep taking B12 vitamin supplements pills and the other is to eat more “meat, eggs, poultry, dairy products, and other foods from animals." Apparently plants don’t make vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms

  • strange sensations, numbness, or tingling in the hands, legs, or feet
  • difficulty walking (staggering, balance problems)
  • anemia
  • a swollen, inflamed tongue
  • difficulty thinking and reasoning (cognitive difficulties), or memory loss
  • weakness
  • fatigue

Could you have a vitamin B12 deficiency?

While an experienced physician may notice the symptoms and be able to detect a vitamin B12 deficiency with a good interview and physical exam, a blood test is needed to confirm the condition.

Can you get enough vitamin B12 from eating veggies?

Eating more veggies is a great idea! However, it's hard to get enough vitamin B12 from eating. If you are low on vitamin B12, first talk to your doctor, but also consider taking both vitamin pills and eating more veggies. The best of both worlds!

Is it dangerous to take too much vitamin B12?

While it is best to only take the recommended dosage of everything, technically, no, it not dangerous to take higher doses of vitamin B12. Your body will only take what it needs since it is a water soluble vitamin. However, some of the vitamins that you need to be careful with are vitamins D, A, K and E.

“Life is not living, but living in health.” – Martial

Hello. Nice to meet you! How are you? Hmm... this feels like a really one-sided conversation... why don't you follow me on social media so I can get to know you too!

About the Author

I started blogging about two years ago and my collection of blogs and articles is getting pretty impressive. I’ve taken online classes for writing and even some classes about the art of blogging itself. It would be really awesome if you join the adventure and maybe even help me think of what to write about next. If you would like to submit some feedback or ideas, you can always tweet me on Twitter.

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Thank you for reading my article. Would it be okay if I ask another favour though? Would it be okay if you share this on your Facebook page or Twitter? If you can't share, there is a tiny little donate box at the bottom too. No pressure though, just thought I would mention it.

Work Cited

“21 Things You Should Know About Vitamin B12 Deficiency.” Health.com, www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20924065,00.html.

“B-12.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 17 Oct. 2017, www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-b12/art-20363663.

“Fat-Soluble Vitamins: A, D, E, and K - 9.315.” Extension, extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/nutrition-food-safety-health/fat-soluble-vitamins-a-d-e-and-k-9-315/.

Goenka, Shruti. “25 Awesome Quotes On Nutrition.” STYLECRAZE, IncnutIncnut, 30 May 2019, www.stylecraze.com/articles/awesome-quotes-on-nutrition/#gref.

Skerrett, Patrick J. “Vitamin B12 Deficiency Can Be Sneaky, Harmful.” Harvard Health Blog, 11 Feb. 2019, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/vitamin-b12-deficiency-can-be-sneaky-harmful-201301105780.

“What You Need to Know About Vitamin B12.” What You Need to Know About Vitamin B12 - Unlock Food, www.unlockfood.ca/en/Articles/Vitamins-and-Minerals/What-you-need-to-know-about-vitamin-B12.aspx.

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Nancy D

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