Are You Deficient In B12?
The production of red blood cells is dependent upon the amount of vitamin B12 in your body. Your red blood cells are important in the supply of oxygen and various nutrients to your body’s cells and tissue. Vitamin B12 works with folate in order to help build our genetic material. If you lack the right amounts of vitamin B12, all these normal functioning of your system will be disrupted and unwanted things may happen. You may develop neuropsychiatric and hematologic disorders. But the good news is that B12 deficiency can be reversed if detected early enough.
Vitamin B12 is readily absorbed by your body, due to the fact that it is water soluable. It can be found in foods such as red meat, poultry, fish and diary products. Some breakfast cereals and breads are also fortified with vitamin B12. This means that those on a strict vegetarian or vegan diet may be susceptible to vitamin B12 deficiency. If you are over 50 years old, then you are also more likely to suffer from a B12 deficiency. Drug and alcohol abuse can also deplete B12. There are also people who have serious health conditions that make them unable to absorb vitamin B12 from the food they eat.
Checking the following list of symptoms may help you decide if you are suffering from a B12 deficiency:
• Memory loss and lack of mental clarity
• General weakness and gets tired easily
• Irritability
• Shortness of breath
• Poor appetite
• Jaundice
• Constipation
These are just some of the common symptoms. There are other indications which you can find if you do a thorough research on it.
Treating your condition is very important because it may lead to more serious illnesses such as:
• Anemia
• Nerve damage (which can be permanent)
• Dementia
• For children – delay of growth and development
Vitamin B12 deficiency can be easily reversed by doing the following:
• Diagnose and treat the underlying cause of deficiency
• Eat foods that are rich in vitamin B12
• Take vitamin B12 supplements (especially if you’re on a vegan diet) such as pills, capsules, sublingual B12 or vitamin B12 nasal spray.
• Vitamin B12 injections – for those who are unable to absorb vitamin B12 from foods and supplements.
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