If you go to your local drugstore, you'd see rows upon rows of multi-vitamins and vitamin supplements. There's almost a vitamin for pretty much everything. There are detoxifying vitamins, anti-aging vitamins, anti-acne vitamins, vitamins to improve your digestion, vitamins to improve your blood pressure; supplements to increase muscle mass, curb or increase appetites - promising that you will be taller and so much more! But if there's one vitamin that we probably overlook the most, it is Vitamin B12.
So why is vitamin B12 so important?
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Vitamin B12 is a vitamin that is essential to overall healthy. It has a lot of uses:
o It helps convert carbohydrates, sugar and protein into energy, which would prevent that tired feeling that you would normally get during the day.
o It aids in the formation of red blood cells.
o White blood cells need it to keep the immune system working in tip-top shape.
o Nerve cells use it to preserve their fatty layer.
o Helps with cellular regeneration.
Lack of this essential vitamin can lead to serious symptoms such as numbness in the hands and feet (a sensation commonly referred as pins and needles), fatigue and shortness of breath. A severe deficiency of this vitamin may cause even cause pernicious anemia. Using certain medications to fight gastric conditions and any digestive-related surgery may also cause a decreased level of this vitamin.
Vegans are very susceptible to vitamin B12 deficiency. Why? Science has yet to discover a vegetable that contains it. It is commonly found in red meats, poultry, dairy products and seafood. Foods that contain the highest amounts of B12 are clams, mussels and beef liver. Be careful though when cooking these foods, you may lose nutrients if you overcook them.
Not everyone can take eating oysters and kidney pie everyday; if that is the case a vitamin B12 supplement would do just fine. Most vegans prefer it this way rather than consuming a serving of liver and onions. Consult your doctor or nutritionist so that they can recommend the right supplement for you.
What is Methylcobalamin?
Methylcobalamin is an active formulation of Vitamin B12. This may be taken orally or through an injection. It is commonly prescribed by doctors because of its convenience since it goes directly into the blood stream and doesn't require any digestive processes.
Other Vitamin B12 Formulations
The most stable formulation of this vitamin is cyanocobalamin. It is commonly found in multi-vitamins since it is very easy to combine and crystallize. However common it may be, it is still unable to provide the necessary amounts of it that the body needs. It loses some of its potency from the digestive process. Meaning, you might not be getting the dosage that you need as it was labeled on the box.
One Final Note: The Romans introduced oysters as aphrodisiacs during the second century. Thus, is it possible that they just lacked Vitamin B12? If they ate oysters in that condition, the Vitamin B12 in them would give them a boost of energy. Interesting, right?
The Ultimate Energy Vitamin - Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin) Ala
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