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Understanding Vitamin B12 And Your Body’s Needs

1st December, 2010 - Posted by health news - No Comments

The vitamin B12 is one of the B vitamins that are critical to maintain a healthy body. Otherwise known as Cobalamin, the B12 vitamin is required for the techniques to convert the carbs, fats and proteins from food into energy. Vitamin B12 also, just as importantly, helps keep the red blood cells healthy and therefore stop coronary disease as well as keeping the immune system functioning at its maximum level. Additionally, vitamin B12 is used to create the protective covering of all nerve cells in the body.

The most significant function of B12 is to form healthy red blood cells. Nevertheless all cells need vitamin B12 to keep them healthy. It is the white blood cells, amongst others, that need vitamin B12 to help make sure that the immunity mechanism working properly. All the nerve cells in the body also need vitamin B12 to form their protective greasy layer. This is needed for all the nerves but is especially so for those in the brain. If there’s not acceptable vitamin B12 to make this protective layer then the brain may not be functioning properly.

Curiously the quantity of vitamin B12 the body wants is comparatively little but is required on a constant basis. However , vitamin B12 on its own isn’t enough as the body cannot absorb it easily. To help the body absorb vitamin B12 the stomach produces intrinsic factor which will enable more of the vitamin B12 to be absorbed. Vitamin B12 is only found in animal foods such as liver, eggs, fish and meat but most people consume far more than their recommended daily amount.

This is not a difficulty as the body can only absorb about half of the vitamin B12 that’s consumed. It is also worth realizing the body can recycle the B12 which cuts down on the impact of a vitamin B12 deficiency. Nevertheless strict vegetarians or vegans are likely to need vitamin B12 supplements if they do not eat any animal products containing this significant vitamin.

If the body hasn’t got enough vitamin B12 then anemia is the most obvious symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Manifestly, this is thanks to the fact that there’s not enough vitamin B12 to make healthy red blood cells. Anemia can also be due to the body not making enough intrinsic factor to help absorb the vitamin B12 that can be found in the food consumed. Sometimes, all that’s wanted to revive the proper levels of B12 to the body is a simple change in diet, with more protein, for instance. But for many , the best and easiest way to correct a vitamin B12 deficiency is to endure vitamin B12 injections or to take vitamin B12 additions.

Many who do so report significant and fast enhancements in stamina, energy and overall well being.

The body tends to makes less natural factor once an individual reaches 50 and this will lead on to less vitamin B12 being soaked up and supplements of vitamin B12 could be required. Children are also in peril from anemia because they may not eat the food that contain vitamin B12.

Pregnant women need more vitamin B12 because the baby is soaking up vitamin B12 in the pregnancy to grow properly.