• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Health
  • Supplements
  • Nutrition
  • Fitness
  • Mind and Body
  • Recipes
  • Shop
Go Nutrients

Go Nutrients Blog

You are here: Home / Supplements / Vitamin B12: Healthy Benefits, Diet and Risks

Vitamin B12: Healthy Benefits, Diet and Risks

October 10, 2019

Blog Post Contents

  • What is Vitamin B12?
  • Symptoms of Vitamin B-12 deficiency
      • Get the best quality liquid vitamin and mineral supplements available anywhere* *Go Nutrients readers get 15% site-wide via this link or using code GNBLOG15
  • Benefits of Healthy B12 Levels
    • Improved Mood
    • Increased Energy
    • Healthy Heart
    • Vision Health
    • Increased Memory 
    • Skin, Nails and Hair
    • Lower Risk of Various Diseases
      • Get the best quality liquid vitamin and mineral supplements available anywhere* *Go Nutrients readers get 15% site-wide via this link or using code GNBLOG15
  • Foods Sources of Vitamin B-12
Man and woman laughing.  She is holding an exercise weight.  Vitamin B12 plays a role in good health.

What is Vitamin B12?

This important nutrient works to keep your blood cells and nerves healthy. It also plays a huge role in your energy levels. Vitamin B12 also works to help create that the DNA that makes up your cells. 

Vitamin B12 is not made by your body.  It is absorbed from the animal foods you eat.   Vegetarians and vegans require dietary supplements to ensure their levels are healthy.  

Other than supplements, animal based foods are the only source of vitamin B-12.  Between 1.5% and 15% of the public experience a deficiency. 

Keep in mind that some health issues make it hard for your stomach to absorb vitamin B-12.  Acid reflux and diabetes are two of the most commonly known ones. Pernicious anemia, although not as common, may stop absorption completely. 

Symptoms of Vitamin B-12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency signs and symptoms. Medical icons. Vector illustration in bright colours isolated on a white background. Beauty, health care and eutrophy concept.

The most commonly known symptom is tiredness and general lack of energy.  The effects can range from mild to severe. Some people will experience more symptoms than others do. There is not one set of symptoms you must have when experiencing vitamin B12 deficiency. Every body is different, therefore reacts in its own way.

Researching and learning how to improve your health is a fantastic way to ensure you are on the best track for a long and healthy life. It is best to consult with your doctor as well. Although you may feel you have found the culprit of your symptoms there could be more underlying issues.

Supplements are a wonderful way to help maintain your levels but keep in mind continued symptoms should be discussed with your doctor.  Always do your research and find a vitamin B12 supplement that has all natural ingredients.

Although more rare there are some major side effects of deficiency include:

  • Balance
  • Confusion
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Gas
  • Heart palpitations
  • High temperatures
  • Lightheadedness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Mood changes like depression
  • Mouth sores
  • Nerve problems like numb or tingling hands or feet
  • Paling skin color
  • Shortness of breath
  • Vision impairment
  • Weakness
  • Weight loss

Get the best quality liquid vitamin and mineral supplements available anywhere*
*Go Nutrients readers get 15% site-wide via this link or using code GNBLOG15

Benefits of Healthy B12 Levels

Happy couple smiling at each other with coffee cups in hand.

Improved Mood

Vitamin B12 helps the brain create chemicals used to control your mood.  Problems like depression, anxiety, and confusion may improve with normal b12 levels.  Cognitive function problems, like memory loss, may lead to a poor mood. 

Researchers have studied the connection between vitamin B-12 and depression.  In one study a large number of patients with depression had low levels of vitamin b-12.  Another one found that a woman with long term depression had relief, after returning to a healthy vitamin B12 level. 

Increased Energy

One of the most common symptoms of a deficiency is decreased energy.  B12 helps to convert carbohydrates into energy producing glucose. 

If you often feel tired, sluggish or fatigued adding a B12 supplement to daily routine may help. 

Healthy Heart

Woman holding heart hands in front of her face.

Heart disease develops for many reasons.  There are a wide variety of steps to take to ensure the health of your heart.  Diet, exercise, hereditary and more.  

High levels of homocysteine in the blood can be linked to blood clots or overall arterial damage.  These can be side effects of low vitamin B-12 levels.  

Sometimes even our best efforts to be healthy may go astray.  Surprisingly, the benefits of a vegetarian diet may be undone if a B12 supplement is not used. 

Vision Health

Decreasing your vision loss is a benefit of a B12 supplement.  B12 helps to maintain the health of your optic nerves. Folic acid and B12 is likely to prevent a disease called age-related macular degeneration.

Increased Memory 

The brain uses neurotransmitters (information carriers) for healthy development and function.  When the levels are low our recall or memory may be sluggish. You have an increased risk of memory loss if you do not have health B12 levels.  

Head shot of a woman with long hair, beautifully done nails and healthy skin.

Skin, Nails and Hair

These are all areas of your body that require constant cell reproduction. B12 plays a vital role in that process.  If you are not deficient it is not likely that adding a supplement will improve these areas.  

People with low levels often have discolored nail beds, thinning hair or possible loss of skin coloring (vitiligo).   

Lower Risk of Various Diseases

Older adults are often found to be deficient.  Dementia, stroke, psoriasis, cancer, autoimmune diseases, Alzheimer’s and more benefit from vitamin B12.  Excessive nitric oxide levels can are part of these diseases. B12 binds with the excess and helps to remove it from your body.

Many cognitive functions, nerve damage or diseases may be improved with a b-12 supplement.  The nervous system is key to a healthy life. B-12 can be a great source of nutrients for the system.  

Get the best quality liquid vitamin and mineral supplements available anywhere*
*Go Nutrients readers get 15% site-wide via this link or using code GNBLOG15

Foods Sources of Vitamin B-12

Vitamin B12 food sources  Photo of various foods

As we covered earlier only animal based foods provide vitamin B12.  Even the healthiest of diets can leave you low levels if you don’t incorporate these important foods.  

What are animal based foods?  You may immediately think of meat and you are correct.  However, this category also includes milk and eggs. This is why a vegan diet puts a person at a higher risk of deficiency than a vegetarian diet will.

  • Animal Liver and Kidneys (Lamb liver has the highest level of B12)
  • Beef
  • Clams
  • Eggs
  • Fish
  • Fortified Cereals 
  • Fortified Non-dairy milk
  • Milk and dairy products are often fortified with B12 (read your labels)

The Go Nutrients team hopes you enjoyed this article and find more valuable information here that makes living a healthy lifestyle easier. We are a leading brand of alcohol-free, high potency liquid herbal supplements and vitamins. Our focus is on delivering premium products that are safe and effective. Plus, our products are MADE IN THE USA!

Return to Blog Home

Filed Under: Supplements Tagged With: vitamin b, Vitamin B12, vitamin b12 benefits, Vitamin B12 risks

You May Also Like

10 Vitamin B12 Deficiency Risk Factors
10 Vitamin B12 Deficiency Risk Factors
9 Important B12 Deficiency Symptoms
9 Important B12 Deficiency Symptoms
Health Benefits of Vitamin B
6 Vitamin B Complex Health Benefits

Primary Sidebar

Multiple Pack Savings

Immune Booster

Most Popular Posts

  • Boost Your Weight Loss with the Adrenal Diet
    Nutrition Boost Your Weight Loss with the Adrenal Diet
  • 6 Important Steps To A Healthy Thyroid
    Health 6 Important Steps To A Healthy Thyroid
  • Vitamin B-12: Benefits, Risks and Diet
    Supplements Vitamin B12: Healthy Benefits, Diet and Risks
  • Depression, anxiety and stress natural relief
    Supplements 9 Supplements for Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

Recent Posts

  • Turkey Made Your Way – Delicious
  • Why it is Important to Eat Greens & 5 Recipes
  • Top Benefits of Chlorophyll Supplements: Why You Should Buy One
  • Tis’ the Season: 5 Amazing Pumpkin Recipes
  • 5 Of The Best Asparagus Recipes
Follow by Email
Facebook
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Twitter
Visit Us
Tweet
Pinterest
RSS

E-mail Newsletter

Get the latest health, nutrition, beauty and fitness news delivered straight to your inbox.

Privacy Policy

Footer

About Go Nutrients

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Recent

  • Turkey Made Your Way – Delicious
  • Why it is Important to Eat Greens & 5 Recipes
  • Top Benefits of Chlorophyll Supplements: Why You Should Buy One
  • Tis’ the Season: 5 Amazing Pumpkin Recipes
  • 5 Of The Best Asparagus Recipes

Search

Tags

anxiety common cold COVID Depression Diet Dinner Exercise exhausted fatigue fitness Fitness routine Flu gut gut health hand sanitizer healthy eating healthy recipes heart health Herbs hyperthyroidism hypothyroidism Immune System Liver Magnesium mental health natural natural remedies probiotic Recipe Recipes sleep sleep better Stomach pain stress relief supplements thyroid tired virus Vitamin B12 Vitamin D Vitamin D3 Vitamin D deficiency Workout Workout at home Zinc

The information on this Web site or in emails is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding you or your child’s condition. Go Nutrients bases these statements on the historically established and widely acknowledged traditional uses of natural ingredients. All testimonials and product reviews are authentic from actual customers. Documentation is available for legal inspection. Product reviews are within range of typicality.

Copyright © 2023 · Go Nutrients · All Rights Reserved