What is B12?
Vitamin B12 is having its moment in the sun. With increasing concerns about immunity, health, and well-being, many are seeking out supplements. B12 is getting a lot of attention – but what is it and why is it important?

B12 is an essential vitamin– meaning it is one of the 13 vitamins our body cannot produce on its own. B12 is important for proper metabolic function and helps turn the food we eat into energy. B12 also plays a key role in nerve cell function, neurological function, and the formation of red blood cells that deliver oxygen throughout the body.

Two Common Signs of a B12 Deficiency
Are you feeling fatigue or weakness?
One of the most common signs of a B12 deficiency is often fatigue or weakness. There has been a recent boom in energy drinks and supplements marketing B12 for energy. But does B12 actually help you feel energized? B12 does help your body convert food into energy. If you can’t convert food to energy, you may feel symptoms like fatigue. If your red blood cells are not moving oxygen around your body efficiently, you may feel symptoms like weakness. However, B vitamins don’t provide an energy boost like caffeine does. It’s actually more important than a quick boost, B12 provides the consistent energy your body needs over time for long term health and wellness.

Are you feeling depressed or moody?
There is a link between depression and low B12 levels. B12 is involved in the brain’s production of serotonin, also known as our happiness hormone. Serotonin stabilizes our mood and has an impact across your entire body. If you are deficient in B12, you may not be producing enough serotonin. In people with a deficiency, supplementation has shown mood boosting effects.

Other symptoms of a deficiency include anemia, shortness of breath, irregular heart beats, balance issues, mental confusion, general brain fog, and nerve tingling in the hands or feet.

Supplementing with B12
Because B12 is an essential vitamin, we must consume it in our foods or obtain it through a supplement. B12 is most abundant in meats, but can also be found in eggs, fish and dairy. It has been a popular supplement among vegans and vegetarians for many years simply because B12 does not exist in plant based foods. Others choose to use B12 supplements to ensure they are reaching optimal levels.

Even if you are consuming enough B12, absorption into the body can be a challenge. When supplementing with B12, how you deliver it into your body matters. Can you get enough B12 through supplements like pills or infused drinks? Maybe. But there are factors that could interfere with absorption. As we age, our bodies produce less acid in the stomach making it harder for us to absorb B12. Medications and digestive issues may also interfere with absorption.

Doctors commonly prescribe B12 infusion shots to prevent or treat a B12 deficiency. B12 infusion shots are safe and effective. These easy to use at home shots are administered directly into the muscle to ensure 100% absorption. Thinking about B12 infusions? Click Here