VITAMIN B12 (Cyanocobalamin)
B12 is one of your red blood cells’ best friends. Vital in the regulation of the formation of red blood cells, this vitamin also helps prevent anemia, a condition where hemoglobin limits are below normal in the blood. Hemoglobin is, very basically, the “cart” in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the cells and carbon dioxide away from the cells. The “red” in red blood cells comes from an iron-containing pigment called heme. B12 helps with the utilization of iron. In cells, in general, it aids in their formation and longevity. B12 helps ensure that what you eat is properly digested and absorbed. It is required for the creation of proteins and the breakdown into usable components of carbs and fats. In your nervous system, B12 prevents nerve damage by protecting nerve endings and nerve coverings (sheaths). If you’re concerned with memory and learning, B12 is linked to the production of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. B12 also helps with getting a more restful and refreshing sleep.
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DEFICIENCIES
A lack of B12 can cause abnormal gait, bone loss, chronic fatigue, constipation, depression, digestive disorders, dizziness, drowsiness, enlargement of the liver, eye disorders, hallucinations, headaches, migraines, inflammation of the tongue, irritability, labored breathing, memory loss, moodiness, nervousness, neurological damage, palpitations, anemia, or tinnitus.
SOURCES
Best sources include brewer's yeast, clams, eggs, herring, kidney, liver, mackerel, milk, dairy products, and seafood. B12 is not found in any vegetables, except sea vegetables such as dulse, kelp and nori. B12 is found in the following herbs: alfalfa, bladderwrack and hops.
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