Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that helps your body’s blood as well as your nerve cells stay healthy, in addition it helps make your DNA. The genetic material in all of your cells.

Majority of people don’t fully understand the importance Vitamin B12 provides for your body. Your body isn’t able to make this vitamin, you receive it from a balanced diet such as beef, pork, eggs, milk, cheese and fish. These are all good sources of vitamin B12. However, around 10% vegetarians in England are unable to absorb this vitamin from these food groups. B12 can be found in some breakfast cereals and nutritional yeasts as well as some supplements. 

The recommended daily amount of B12 for an average adult is 1.5mcg. This can be easily achieved through your diet. If you are not consuming the average daily amount of B12 it can result in you developing megaloblastic anaemia. This is a blood condition that makes you feel:

• Tired
• Weak
• Lack of energy
• A pale-yellow tint to your skin

If you are experiencing any of these symptom’s then you should visit your doctor.

If you are aware you are not consuming the necessary amount of vitamin B12 whether that be to your diet or a vegetarian diet we are able to treat this deficiency. Most cases of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency can easily be treated with injections or tablets to replace your missing B12. The injections or tables provided will have to be taken between your meals. These treatments may last until your vitamin B12 levels have improved or you may have to take them for the rest of your life.  

What does B12 help with?

Energy

Vitamin B12 contributes to the production of red blood cells which carry the oxygen around your body. The oxygen will travel from your lungs into your blood and will proceed to flow to all your vital organ’s such as your brain, lungs and muscles. If your organ’s do not receive enough oxygen then this is where you will begin to feel fatigue and tiredness as a result.

Digestion

B12 goes hand in hand with the digestion and absorption of macronutrients. Fats, proteins and carbohydrates are all metabolised by B12 into the energy we use all day and every day. Not consuming the average B12 in your diet, vital nutrient’s will not be able to pass through your body and won’t be absorbed into your blood. Then will lead to deficiencies.