We hear a lot about vitamins these days and their benefits. Some people go overboard by taking a whole list of vitamins, not really knowing what they actually do for the body; and others don’t take any supplements, which can also be harmful to your health. Vitamin B12 is one that many are familiar with, and a lack of this vitamin in our systems can cause severe health issues; such as, depression, delusions, memory loss, and paranoia. These are pretty serious health issues to deal with, when the cure could be simply taking in a recommended dose of vitamin B12. Without the proper dosage daily, you could even lose your sense of smell and taste when suffering from a severe vitamin B12 deficiency.
Vitamin B12 is responsible for making red blood cells, DNA, and nerves. 2.4 micrograms a day is the recommended amount for adults. Many vitamin supplements can be made by the body, but B12 is an exception, it must be obtained from foods and vitamin supplements that are taken daily. So if you are not taking the B12 supplement, know that your body is not producing it for you. Therefore it’s easy to see how you could be suffering from a deficiency, because not many people eat enough foods containing B12 on a regular basis, to get the recommended amount. This is the problem. So if the body cannot produce vitamin B12 on its own, then many people are deficient.
Here are just a few ways to recognize if you are deficient in vitamin B12:
- Numbness or tingling in the hands and/or feet
- Balance problems when walking, staggering
- Anemia, for which a doctor’s visit is necessary
- Cognitive problems; trouble speaking, thinking, easily confused
- Paranoia
- Yellowed skin (jaundice)
- Hallucinations
The best advice is to get your yearly physical, particularly if you are 50 or over, to see if you are vitamin B12 deficient, so that you can begin to add foods to your diet that will help to solve this health issue.
Foods with Vitamin B12 (Remember to avoid suggested foods if you are allergic or unsure if you are allergic.)
- Shellfish
- Cheeses
- beef
- Seafood
- Milk
As stated earlier, if you are allergic to any or all of these foods, your best option is to take a daily vitamin B12 supplement. Even those not allergic to any common foods, should see a doctor to determine if he/she is vitamin B12 deficient, so that you can benefit from early detection and take the actions to resolve this serious health problem.