WAKE UP! B-12 Time

/ whatnothealthcoaching

As promised, a brand-new shiny post!  This week I wanted to take a look at B-12, mainly B-12 deficiencies, but to understand the deficiencies, we first need to understand what B-12 this vitamin is does a lot for our bodies, it creates your DNA, it helps develop you CNS, keeps your hair, nails, and skin healthy.  It can be found in foods such as

  • Lean Meats
  • Poultry
  • Eggs
  • Seafood
  • Beans
  • Peas
  • Lentils
  • Nuts and Seeds
  • Soy Products
Photo by David Disponett on Pexels.com

The average amounts of daily recommendations for B-12 are as follows:

  • Infants up to age 6 months: 0.4 micrograms
  • Babies aged 7-12 months: 0.5 micrograms
  • Children aged 1-3 years: 0.9 micrograms
  • Kids aged 4-8 years: 1.2 micrograms
  • Children aged 9-13 years: 1.8 micrograms
  • Teens aged 14-18 years: 2.4 micrograms
  • Adults (19+ years): 2.4 micrograms
  • Pregnant: 2.6 micrograms
  • Breastfeeding: 2.8 micrograms

So, now onto the deficiency, this is a treatable condition that happens if you are not consuming enough vitamin B12 in your diet or if your body is not absorbing it properly. It can cause physical, neurological and psychological symptoms, BUT it can treated with vitamin B12 medications. Some symptoms of B-12 deficiency are:

  • Feeling very tired or weak.
  • Experiencing nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
  • Not feeling as hungry as usual.
  • Weight loss.
  • Having a sore mouth or tongue.
  • Having yellowish skin.
  • Numbness or tingling in your hands and feet.
  • Vision problems.
  • Having a hard time remembering things or getting confused easily.
  • Having a difficult time walking or speaking like you usually do.
  • If neurological problems develop from vitamin B12 deficiency, they may not be reversible.
  • Feeling depressed.
  • Feeling irritable.
  • Experiencing a change in the way you feel and behave.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

But don’t worry, it’s definitely treatable, if not through dietary changes, it can be treated with-

  • Vitamin B12 oral medication.
  • Vitamin B12 intramuscular injections (a shot that goes into the muscle).
  • Vitamin B12 nasal gel.
  • Vitamin B12 nasal spray

Whatever it is that you need, any of these will help.  Till next time

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