Vitamin B12 is a vitamin commonly found in animal products. Even if you are a meat-eater or vegetarian, you can still incur a vitamin B12 deficiency. If so, your iron will be low and this can cause anaemia. Although the deficiency isn’t life-threatening, it can cause symptoms that will reduce your quality of life. From extreme fatigue to brittle nails, there are common issues that will have a significant impact on your health. Thus, it is important to increase and maintain healthy vitamin B12 levels.
Reduce inflammatory issues
Maintaining healthy vitamin B12 levels will help reduce your vulnerability to inflammatory issues, from a canker sore on tonsil to headaches.
When you consume enough vitamin B12, your body will be able to fight inflammation and maintain better health.
Prevents anaemia
A lack of vitamin B12 can cause anaemia, which is a curable condition. Anaemia can hinder your quality of life as it can cause symptoms such as extreme fatigue and dizziness.
If you go to the doctor, a blood test can be taken to check your levels. If you are deficient in vitamin B12, then you can be prescribed iron supplements. Sometimes, the doctor will advise you to add vitamin B12-rich foods to your diet.
Supports bone health
Brittle and weak bones are a common concern of a vitamin B12 deficiency. Maintaining a healthy level of vitamin B12 will support bone health.
Good bone health can prevent conditions such as osteoporosis. Moreover, it will help increase your bone strength as your age.
Improves your mood
Vitamin B12 plays a role in synthesizing your serotonin levels, which is the hormone that increases happiness and boosts your mood.
Thus, if you increase your vitamin B12 levels, then you will likely be able to maintain a good mood.
Enhances brain health
When a person lacks vitamin B12, your brain can lose neurons. In time, this can affect your memory and cognitive skills. In some cases, it could make you vulnerable to neurodegenerative conditions.
To enhance your brain health, it is important to maintain a healthy level of vitamin B12. it will help with memory and thinking skills, as well as prevent brain diseases.
Offers an energy boost
A common symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency is fatigue. To combat this, increasing your vitamin B12 levels will help.
Seeing as fatigue is caused by a lack of the vitamin, the reverse effect will happen when you increase your levels. It can boost your energy and help you fight fatigue.
Where can you source natural vitamin B12?
There are multiple food sources that contain vitamin B12. Although you can obtain it from supplements and tablets, it will help to get it from natural food sources. The foods richest in vitamin B12 include:
- Liver
- Beef
- Mackerel
- Clams
- Milk
- Lamb
- King crabs
- Tuna
- Oysters
For vegetarians, vitamin B12-rich foods include:
- Fortified cereals and juices
- Milk
- Eggs
- Vitamin water
- Swiss cheese
- Tofu
- Whey powder
Maintaining a diet that is rich in vitamin B12 will help combat a deficiency and allow you to maintain overall good health.
