You would hear about health benefits of Vitamin B12, but we’ll get most about it in this content. Vitamin B12 is one of the healthy essences of the Vitamin B Complex. Basically, Vitamin B12 is a nutrient and it keeps our body cells and nerves healthy. It also helps to generate DNA, which is the genetic material in every cell. Moreover, Vitamin B12 helps us to prevent one kind of anemia named megaloblastic anemia that’s responsible to make us weak and tired. But, it’s not so simple for our body to absorb Vitamin B12 because it requires two steps for this operation. At first, our stomach’s Hydrochloric Acid separates this vitamin from protein that comes with food. After that, Vitamin B12 gets mixed with a protein in the stomach named intrinsic factor and then finally it is absorbed by our body
Besides, the deficiency of Vitamin B12 is one of the leading nutrient deficiencies in the world. This is because this vitamin promotes heart health, supports your memory and mood, and even treats your skin diseases. Also, some people have a condition in which they can’t make intrinsic factor named pernicious anemia. It results; they have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 from all dietary supplements and foods. Well, Vitamin B12 works in some other ways for our health that it runs smoothly. And this post is all about these.
Table Of Contents
- Health Benefits of Vitamin B12
- The Food Sources of Vitamin B12
- The Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
- About of The Vitamin B12 Shots
- Risk Factors of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Health Benefits of Vitamin B12
We have known about some of the health benefits of Vitamin B12 from the above. Now, we’ll learn more and details about them. You’d be surprised that nearly 40% of the Americans suffer from B-12 at very low level. Our brain doesn’t work properly and more often than not you’re suffering from chronic fatigue with low B-12 levels. But, it just supports healthy energy levels and not anything more than it. So, let’s know more about Vitamin b12 benefits for our health.
Boosts Nerve & Brain Health
Health benefits of Vitamin B12 go to boost our nerve and brain health, which is proven by several studies. There was one study that shows how this vitamin prevents the loss of brain volume in the elderly. So, those who take adequate vitamin B12 had a lower risk of brain shrinkage. Moreover, Vitamin b12 benefits maintain healthy nerve cells and it can prevent Alzheimer’s. Also, it produces brain chemicals, which are responsible for better mood. So, the body can treat stress, depression, and other anxiety disorders. Because of vitamin B12 aids cell production, it can help to treat autism as well.
Possibly Aid Diabetes Treatment
Vitamin B12 can treat diabetic retinopathy, such as damage to blood vessels in the eye and neuropathy like nerve damage in the legs and feet. But, there is no direct link between diabetes treatment and vitamin B12. As we already know that Vitamin B12 reduces homocysteine levels in the blood. Otherwise, it can lead us to retinopathy. It also helps to reduce symptoms like pain, numbness, and a prickling sensation. A commonly prescribed diabetic drug ‘metformin’ can cause vitamin B12 shortage in our body. This is why it could be a good idea to get a supplement to it, especially, for diabetic patients. Also, Pernicious anemia is the result of vitamin B12 deficiency that’s experienced in type-1 diabetes.
Improves Heart Health
It improves our heart health and this is one of the best health benefits of Vitamin B12 that helps to treat heart disease. It also decreases the levels of homocysteine about 32% that lowers the risk of heart disease and heart attacks. But, its higher levels can elevate the heart disease and heart attacks risk. “Taking vitamin B12 can not only save lives but also cut down the costs associated with expensive medical treatments” – the report suggests as well. Also, Vitamin B12 supplementation was proven to reduce atherosclerosis that results in blood pressure.
Aids Digestion
Aiding digestion is one of the great health benefits of Vitamin B12 that helps to produce digestive enzymes. These enzymes promote healthy digestion and ensure the breakdown of food properly. Promoting the growth of healthy gut bacteria, the nutrient fosters the gut environment. Because it prevents other digestive issues like inflammatory bowel disease eliminating the harmful bacteria in the gut.
Supports DNA Synthesis
As lack of vitamin B12 can eventually slow down DNA synthesis, reports suggest. So, faster DNA synthesis is one of the health benefits of Vitamin B12 that also result in another condition called megaloblastic anemia. This anemia affects the division of bone marrow cells. This way vitamin B12 supports DNA synthesis.
Bones Need It
Found patients with osteoporosis have higher homocysteine levels and low levels of B-12 than those who have strong, healthy bones that found studies. It could be Vitamin B-12 that can viable adjunct to future osteoporosis approaches. Speak to your doctor about getting your vitamin B-12 levels tested when you suffer from osteoporosis or similar bone issues.
Keeps You Young
Among the health benefits of Vitamin B12, the anti-aging quality is the top one. When your cells begin to wear and tear Aging happens. Because your DNA doesn’t replicate correctly they also age faster. Moreover, there are many factors can affect DNA replication. Some of them are free radicals, high blood sugar, toxins in the blood, and high omega-6 fats levels in the diet. So, when Vitamin B12 supports DNA health, it keeps the cells younger. And, you look and feel young as well when your cells are young.
Some Other Health Benefits of Vitamin B12
Apart from the above said health benefits of Vitamin B12, there are much more. Well, let’s know about them below:
- Weight Loss
- Good For Men’s Health
- Can Be Beneficial During Pregnancy
- Promotes Better Sleep
- Can Treat Fibromyalgia
- Cures Tinnitus
- Might Prevent Mosquito Bites
- Can Treat Skin Diseases
- Boosts Hair Growth
The Food Sources of Vitamin B12
All we get good with the health benefits of Vitamin B12. But, it’s important to know which foods are rich in this vitamin. These foods in your diet can help you meet your regular vitamin B12 requirements. Okay, let’s learn about the food sources of Vitamin B12.
- Liver of beef and chicken
- Among the fishes, Salmon and Tuna
- Organic yogurt
- Raw milk
- Lamb
The Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
The above sources provide the B12 Vitamin benefits, but what if we don’t get it? Also, how we can understand that we are in deficient of Vitamin B12. So, let’s know some of the most common symptoms of the deficiency:
- Weakness/chronic fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Anxiety and mood swings/depression
- Poor memory
- Nausea and abdominal cramping
- Dizziness
- Heart palpitations
- A poor appetite
About of The Vitamin B12 Shots
Vitamin B12 Shots are the synthetic versions of the vitamin. Anyone can take vitamin B12, which is known as cyanocobalamin from foods or get the vitamin from a synthetic version of the nutrient. They’re Vitamin B12 shots that are injections and containing very high amounts of Vitamin B12/ cyanocobalamin. These shots quickly boost the individual’s vitamin B12 levels. After getting the clinical diagnosis, someone can these shots only prescribed by the registered physicians. It means that you must get a clinical diagnosis first to get the Vitamin B12 Shots.
Risk Factors of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
The risk factors for Vitamin B12 deficiency can arise from the following issues:
- Alcohol abuse
- Smoking
- Thyroid disorder
- Sticking to a vegetarian or vegan diet
- Aging
- People on certain diabetes medications
- Surgical removal of parts of the stomach
- Gastrointestinal disorders like Crohn’s disease
Conclusion
Health benefits of Vitamin B12 are much and all of them are still unknown. It’s a powerful pack of the nutrients. The benefits are quite vital for our good health. It’s still important we are conscious of its intake because severe deficiency of vitamin B12 is very rare as your liver stores years’ worth of vitamin B12. So, there are no ways to get the Vitamin B12 with the above-said food sources or the Vitamin B12 Shots.
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