How Important is Vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is one of the most important vitamins needed for the body and brain.  It is an essential vitamin to the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to your body’s tissues. The vitamin is also needed to help with concentration, memory, mood and energy.

Most people do not have enough vitamin B12 in their body.

Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

A deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. A mild deficiency may cause only mild, if any, symptoms. But as the anemia worsens it may causes symptoms such as:

• weakness, tiredness or light-headedness  
• rapid heartbeat and breathing
• pale skin
• sore tongue
•  easy bruising or bleeding, including bleeding gums
• stomach upset and weight loss
• diarrhea or constipation

If the deficiency is not corrected, it can damage the nerve cells. If this happens, vitamin B12 deficiency effects may include:

• tingling or numbness in fingers and toes
• difficulty walking
• mood changes or depression
• memory loss, disorientation, and dementia

B12 deficiency in infants, if not detected and treated, can lead to severe and permanent damage to the nervous system. (WebMD #1)

Cyanocobalamin vs Methylcobalamin

There are two main commonly used vitamin B12 forms;  Cyanocobalamin and Methylcobalamin. The differences between the two are huge and one should be avoided at all cost.

Cyanocobalamin the most popular form of B12 on the market found in processed food, supplements, multi-vitamins, and pharmaceutical drugs. It is one of the cheapest forms of B12 made synthetically with a cyanide molecule (Cyanide – the poison). Research has found that after taking Cyanocobalamin it leaves trace amounts of cyanide in the body and the only way to remove it is to detox the body.

Products with Cyanocobalamin B12:

·         Red Bull, Rosckstar, 5-hour Energy and most Energy drinks

 

·         Centrum Multivitamins, GNC Multivitamins, and most multivitamins

 

WARNING!: Please check all the labels of your supplements with Vitamin B12 right now. If any of them contain Vitamin B12 Cyanocobalamin throw them out now!

As Wikipedia explains: "A common synthetic form of the vitamin, cyanocobalamin, does not occur in nature, but is used in many pharmaceuticals and supplements, and as a food additive, because of its lower cost. In the body it is converted to the physiological forms, methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin, leaving behind the cyanide..." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_B12)

Meaning that taking the cyanocobalamin version of B12 could be doing more harm than good in your body. Now it will not kill you in moderation but you are slowly poisoning yourself, which can lead to possible future health problems.

Methylcobalamin is the best choice for vitamin B12 for your body. This form is natural and found in nature not designed in a science lab. When you consume the natural forms of any vitamin, your body has a much easier time processing it correctly.

There are a few ways that you can get the methylcobalamin version of B12; injections from the doctor’s office (make sure to ask for the methylcobalamin version of B12, some doctor’s give the cyanocobalamin for cost reasons), patches, pills, or drinks.

Please make sure to purchase the methylcobalamin B12 in any of the forms.

 

Patches: Healthy Habits B-12 Energy Patch. You place them behind your ear.

 

Dissolvable tablets: Source Naturals MethylCobalamin Vitamin B-12 they dissolve under the tongue.

Powder mix: Delta-E contains methylcobalamin B12 along with L-Theanine, which is great for the brain, talked about in the blog ‘No Rain on the Brain’. Delta-E can be found on http://amzn.com/B00H6NGFPI

Sources

WebMD #1 http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/vitamin-b12-deficiency-symptoms-causes

WebMD #2 http://www.webmd.com/diet/vitamin-b12-15239

WebMD #3 http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/vitamin-b12-deficiency-anemia-topic-overview


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