What should your b12 be?

Oh, hello there! Welcome to the wonderful and bizarre world of Vitamin B12. You might be wondering why we are talking about this particular vitamin today. Well, let’s just say that B12 is one of the most important nutrients for our bodies, and it can have a significant impact on our health if we don’t consume enough.

Now, before you start panicking about your daily intake of steak and eggs (oh wait, is that just me?), let’s take a closer look at what Vitamin B12 does in our body and why it matters.

The Lowdown on B12

Vitamin B12 is essential for good health as it plays a vital role in the production of red blood cells, DNA synthesis and normal neurological function. It helps maintain healthy nerve cells and aids brain functioning too – basically helping keep us sharp as a tack no matter how old we get!

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for adults is 2.4 micrograms per day or roughly around 6 baby carrots … now who said eating veggies wouldn’t lead to anything?

However despite its importance, many people don’t get enough of this essential nutrient – especially those following vegetarian or vegan diets which omit animal products traditionally high in vitamin b- such as meat dairy fish poultry eggs etc… more info below !

Beefing Up On The Sources

So where do you find sources of vitamin b besides renouncing vegitarianism/veganism ?
Well, here’s some places that will surely deliver:

Food Serving Size Amount Per Serving
Clams 3 oz cooked 84 Micrograms
Liver sausage A single slice ~7g up to ~20%
Ricotta Cheese One cup 0.3 Micrograms
Fortified Cereal 1 cup up to around 6 micrograms

And that’s not all! Milk, yogurt and some varieties of nondairy milk such as oat, soy, and almond are often fortified with vitamin B12 too.!

Symptoms That Raise Red Flags

If you don’t get enough Vitamin B-12 (remember only small amounts are necessary per day),then chances are your body will start sending aux messages through various symptoms:

  • Fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Memory problems or cognitive decline
  • Sensory impairments such as tingling sensation in the feet or hands
  • Dizziness
    and more…

Look at it this way – if lemon is good for soap scum then b12 is great for keeping our bodies running smoothly. Don’t ignore when your body tells you there is something off center.

What Should Your B12 Be?

This brings us back to where we started – what should be our daily intake/what amount of Vitamine b should one have for optimum health?

Age Leads The Way

Age factors heavily into how much vitamin b a person needs however here is an estimate based on standard recommendations:

Age Group Recommended Amount (Micrograms)
Infants ages 0–6 months .4
Infants ages 7–12 months .5
Children ages 1–3 years .9
Children ages 4–8 years
Children ages 9–13 years
Teens ages14-18
Boys
Girls

Boys and girls age 14-18 years |1.8 mcg
Adults all ages :|2.4 mcg
Pregnant teens and women: |2.6 mcg
Breastfeeding teens and women: |2.8 mcg

Beware of Deficiencies

If you’re not getting enough vitamin b12 day to day it could lead to deficiencies – which are more problematic than opting out on spinach at dinner time (yes, really).

Perilous deficit

A prolonged deficiency in B-12 levels can cause serious complications such as :

  • Depression
  • Fatigue/sleep pattern changes
  • Nerve damage (aka neuropathy)
  • Digestive issues potentially resulting in weight loss/stomach cramps/diarrhea/nausea)
    Really unpleasant stuff.

The longer someone goes without appropriate dietary intake, the higher risk they have for experiencing a severe complication from a Vitamin B12-related deficiency.

The Bottom Line

Okay, so we’ve thrown alot of information your way but here is the bottom line when it comes to making sure you get those essential b vitamins down:

Firstly! Educate yourself with regards to the symptoms that may arise if one lacks adequate amounts of vitamin B (our bodies are constantly telling us through various signals).

Secondly! Do incorporate known sources rich In Vitamin B in your daily meals – whether its meat or diary produce , fortified cereals or vegetable inclusive options suitable for vegans etc…

Lastly ensure vitamine b supplements become an integral part of maintaining a healthy balanced diet; this brings peace mind knowing that optimal requirements dictated by your body will be achieved.

Now go forth into society with newfound knowledge with regards to flaxseed vs beef liver slices Yum. Stay healthy people

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