Many different factors can cause a Vitamin B12 deficiency. B12 LOVE recommends having your Vitamin B12 levels checked, especially if you are experiencing a chronic low energy level, difficulties sleeping, numbness and tingling in hands and feet, migraines, and other health problems. You might be having health issues that seem unrelated to Vitamin B12 levels, but B12 is an essential vitamin that plays a vital part in the major systems in our bodies, from Neurologic to Musculoskeletal.
In part one, let’s look at five known factors that cause low levels of Vitamin B12.
- Do you eat enough B12 food sources? The human body does not produce Vitamin B12 but must obtain it from other sources such as food. Make sure your daily diet is rich in Vitamin B12 sources such as poultry, red meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, and foods fortified with B12. If you are vegan or eating a mostly plant-based diet, make sure you include daily Vitamin B12-enriched food sources such as fortified cereals, fortified meat substitutes, or nutritional yeast with added B12.
- Do you have adequate levels of intrinsic factor in your body to absorb and utilize the B12 from food sources? If you feel like you are eating B12-rich foods but are still feeling low energy and having other health complaints, it is possible that low intrinsic factor levels are impairing your body’s ability to use the food source B12.
- Do you have anemia or have you been checked for anemia? There are over 400 types of anemia, and it is not uncommon for a person to be anemic and not know it. Pernicious anemia (also known as Addison’s or Vitamin B12 anemia) isn’t just a Downton Abbey cliff-hanger. Megaloblastic anemia and pernicious anemia are both treated by increasing Vitamin B12 levels in the body.
- Did you recently have surgery or dental work where nitrous oxide was used? Nitrous Oxide is known to deplete the body’s storage of B12. Make sure you replenish your body’s levels of B12 as soon as possible.
- Have you had weight-loss surgery? After gastric bypass surgery, Vitamin B12 levels should be evaluated as it is the most common deficiency. Due to the surgery, intrinsic factor is no longer stimulated in the body, and Vitamin B12 absorption from food sources is impaired. Vitamin B12 oral supplementation and injections should be used to maintain healthy B12 levels.
Vitamin B12 is a necessary daily nutrient utilized by our bodies for optimum health. Make sure you have healthy levels through diet, supplementing with an oral Vitamin B12 and Vitamin B12 injections which are easily absorbed by the body.
B12 LOVE shots are Methylcobalamin, the highest quality Vitamin B12, which we source from a local compounding pharmacy. B12 LOVE naturopathic doctors, registered nurses, and naturopathic assistants will administer all shots and are dedicated to helping you feel better.
Stay healthy with B12 LOVE!
All the best,
B12 LOVE Team
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