Photo courtesy of niaid.nih.gov
VITAMIN B-12
For those who only consume plant foods ("vegans") or those who have a hard time absorbing B-12 (generally, the older we get, the harder it is), taking a B-12 supplement is highly recommended by many medical practitioners and health organizations. B-12 is one of many B vitamins, but it is the only one not provided in plant foods. It is made by a bacteria that lives in many places, including dirt and animal intestines. For animals, B-12 stores up in their bodies; hence, if you eat another animal's body, you consume B-12 too. Humans also have this special bacteria living inside us, but we don't get enough B-12 from them. Since plants tend to have the dirt washed off them, if you only eat plants you will not get adequate B-12. If you are not sure about your own B-12 status, you can get a blood test done at a doctor's office; ask specifically for them to check your B-12 level. If you believe you could benefit from supplementing it, B-12 supplements are easy to find and painless to take.
SUPPLEMENTATION: Part 1 of 7 SUPPLEMENTATION: Part 2 of 7 SUPPLEMENTATION: Part 3 of 7 SUPPLEMENTATION: Part 4 of 7 SUPPLEMENTATION: Part 5 of 7
For more on the Author, Sebastian Grubb, visit his ‘Movers’ page!