B12 is a crucial vitamin for optimal health. It is involved in making DNA, Myelin Sheaf, which is the coating around the nerves.

B12 is also involved in making RED BLOOD CELLS – Very very vital. Therefore, it’s important for you to know these 7 symptoms, which, may, or may not, be related. However, it’s important for you to identify them because the one thing about being deficient in B12 is you could actually experience irreversible damage to your nervous system. We will cover this below. Firstly, knowing which B12 to take is important. There is the NATURAL version and the SYNTHETIC version. We will ALWAYS recommend the Natural version, which is called METHYLCOBALAMIN, that’s the one to take in your supplements.

CYANDCOBALAMIN is the Synthetic version which is to be AVOIDED at all costs.

The main reason people are deficient in B12 is not necessarily that they are not eating foods that contain it, but the lack of absorption. The B12 absorption is very complex. Many things are happening from the stomach to the small intestine, in the absorption. Your body needs this carrier transportation protein to help you absorb it. It’s called the intrinsic factor. If you don’t have it, or you have an autoimmune disease, you can get something called Propitious Anemia (more on that later but it’s another problem because you have an auto immune disease to this thing called intrinsic factor, or, to the cells that make it, which is in the stomach).

However, the point is that, the reason why people can’t absorb it is they either have some type of atrophy of the stomach or they are lacking Hydro colic Acid (HCL) or they have gastritis, an ulcer in the stomach, celiac, chon’s or IBS further into the digestive tract. Any of these conditions can severely block the absorption of B12. So many people have these issues and because they are deficient in B12 they do not connect the dots. You actually need a good digestive system to be able to absorb B12. It is very common in the elderly. About 20%i of everyone over the age of 60 has a B12 deficiency. It has been said that the big reason for lack of absorption is definitely the lack of HCL. Either in the production of it, or they just do not have the concentration of acid in the stomach. As we get older, we lose the acidity of our stomach and also the ability to absorb B12. This is why anyone over the age of 55 should start taking things that will acidify the stomach, like 


HCL, Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). That alone will start increasing B12 and the person will begin to have more and more energy.

We actually do not need much B12. We need it in mcg not mg. The average person would need 2.4mcg – 2.8mcg. Very small amounts. But when you buy a B complex product you need to be careful as most of them are synthetic the label will often say to take a 1000 to 5000% more B12 than your body really needs.

Some problems can occur from excessive amounts of B12. Getting it from your diet is preferable.

The Foods which contain B12 are:

• Animal liver and kidney – calf liver
• Clams and other seafood
• Sardines
• Beef – other meats
• Fish
• Fermented products - some kimchi, sauerkraut, fermented dairy as in cheese
• Insects

Nutritional yeast (NOT one that has synthetic B12 added. It MUST have the natural form METHYLCOBALAMIN). Synthetics are fortified which means usually use petroleum.

If you are a Vegan or vegetarian (not eating animal products) usually they will be deficient in B12, therefore, it is always recommended they supplement.

Let’s go through the 7 Symptoms you are deficient. 

1. PALE SKIN – you are not able to make red blood cells. You are not getting the oxygen so your body is starving of oxygen so you are looking rather pale, like you would see in someone that’s anemic. Sometimes your skin might be a little yellow or jaundice because the red blood cells are fragile, and the by-products can then create that appearance.;
   
2. CONSTANT FATIGUE – weak, always drowsy and tired. That’s because without oxygen your metabolism can’t work.
3. MOUTH PROBLEMS – ulcers in your mouth, you may have a shiny swollen red tongue. This is because the tongue is unable to get oxygen, so it swells.
4. COGNITIVE ISSUE – without B12 you can be very severely depressed. Have anxiety, memory problems, paranoia, be delusional. Your thinking can really be thrown off if you don’t have enough B12. Both the brain and the nervous system need B12. When the brain doesn’t get oxygen it just cannot work.
5. NERVES – this also relates to the cognitive function. Being deficient in B12 means you are not able to make myelin. Myelin is the outer coating around the nerves. If you cannot make myelin you will start to get short circuiting problem in your nervous system. This will show up as peripheral neuropathy (a disorder of your nerves on the outer edges of your body like your toes, bottom of your feet or fingertips) Mostly common in the feet. If you are very severely deficient in B12 you can experience IRREVERSIBLE NERVE DAMAGE and will be in severe pain!! This is why it’s important to prevent this from happening. YOU CANNOT REVERSE IT!!!
   
6. BLURRED VISION – Why? Because what helps you see is the retina. The retina is neurological tissue in your eye that goes directly back into your brain. If that’s affected, you are not going to be able to see that well. You may recognize that you cannot see as well as you once did, you need glasses all of a sudden. Red veins in your eye - Suspect a B12 deficiency. 
7. FAST PULSE RATE – why would the heart start increasing its beats? That’s because you can’t make red blood cells, so that means you are not going to have oxygen and the body has to compensate for a lack of oxygen by increasing the rate or speed in which your heart pushes blood through the body. 

Hopefully, this has increased your awareness of B12? Now that you understand B12, the next most important Vitamin we will talk about is B1. Be on the look-out for that post next….

VITAMIN B12:

HCL:

HCL ACTIVATOR:

ACV:

DIGESTIVE ENZYMES:

PROBIOTICS:

Contact Marion for a more in-depth health evaluation – 843-707-6943 or email Marion@DirectionWithPurpose.com