The end of September is when B12 Awareness Week takes place.
Found in animal products, this mighty nutrient plays a key role in energy release, nervous system function and healthy blood cells. Low levels can result in fatigue, headaches and pins and needles - sound familiar?
Symptoms of B12 deficiency:
Low energy and fatigue
Headaches
Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
Depression
Digestive issues
Pins and needles in hands and feet
Food Sources of B12 (highest sources first):
Animal liver and kidneys
Clams and sardines
Beef
Tuna, Trout and Salmon
Milk and other dairy products
Eggs
Do you need to supplement?
If you’re excluding animal products from your diet, then yes. B12 is stored in the liver for 2-
3 years, so signs of deficiency may not become apparent until quite some time after removing this food group from your diet.
To complicate things further, there are four types of vitamin B12 supplements! Genetics may also play a role in how much B12 you may need - genetic variations can affect the way we absorb and transport B12 - I have a couple of these variations myself.
Testing B12
B12 can be tested in blood or in urine. My bloods levels are usually on the high side, but urine testing shows a deficiency, those genes again :)
As you can see, like much in the world of nutrition, it’s complex and that’s because we’re all biologically unique!
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The content on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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