“What are the benefits of vitamin B12 anyway?” she asked me. Seems like there is a lot of vagueness in the world of nutrition among most of the people in the world today. B12 is one of the controversial subjects out there, as it is a sensitive intersection between the vegetarian/vegan and meat eaters communities. I will try to shed some light over the benefits of B12 in the next article, as well as some general knowledge about this unique nutrient. Let’s go.

Where Do The B12 Vitamin Benefits Come From?

This vitamin actually comes from a bacteria in the soil, and UNWASHED fruits and vegetables contain some amount of it. More than likely, that’s how herbivore animals, including past human communities with harsh times of no animal foods, got their dosage of vitamin b12. Today that’s quite impossible in most places, as our grown fruits and veggies are heavily chemically enhanced, and need to be washed and cleaned before consumption, and that removes any trace of B12 from the plant.

Carnivore animals get their dosage out of eating animals that eat plants. This bacteria is also likely to produce some small amount of this vitamin in the animal’s body as well (yes, including the all-notorious Homo-sapiens specie, aka Humans!).

Benefits of B12 Vitamin: What Is It Good For?

What does vitamin b12 do? As you will see, B12 benefits are vast:

• Proper formation of red blood cells.
• Forms a fatty protective insulation substance. Myelin, around your nerve cells, enabling the proper transmitting of electrical signals throughout your body.
• Tissue growth.
• Lowers the levels of an amino acid called Homocysteine. A lot of research has been done in the recent years, and cancer development as well as many of the modern world’s diseases have been linked to high levels of that amino acid.
• DNA replication.
• One of the most popular vitamin B12 benefits is that it works as an ‘energizer’ by speeding up your metabolism.

Many people think of getting vitamin B12 injections for weight loss purposes, while the truth is that it just gives you more energy, making you more likely to grab some dumbbells or a skipping rope and do some exercise! Your body will naturally increase it’s daily caloric consumption, and you can get the same benefit from other food sources, so do not fall to these injections hype unless you have a problem orally absorbing this vitamin.

These are the main vitamin B12 benefits and side effects are fairly hard to develop, as this is a water soluble vitamin, thus making it hard to reach an overdose, although it is possible and worth mentioning. You may also be interested in reading about vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms.

Okay. sounds good. How much do I need ?

Luckily, our body needs a tiny amount of B12 for these benefits, around 2-3 MICROgrams a day. Vitamin B12 rich foods are very common, and it’s fairly easy to get the required amount from these sources. Also, our body stores it in the muscles, kidneys and liver for future use, that’s why it can take years to develop a vitamin B12 deficiency.

There are also a lot of supplements in the market, in the forms of B12 shots, intranasal sprays or jel, and sub-lingual tablets. a great food source that I highly recommend is “Red Star Nutritional Yeast T-6635+”, also called “Vegetarian Support Formula” by Red Star. This is a tested and reliable source of B12 and contains the daily amount needed for your body, and worthy to mention – it tasted great and adds a nice flavor to your meals.

Always keep in mind that our body is one huge and amazingly complex biochemical system, with each part dependent on other parts as well, so do not make the mistake of reductionism. Maintain an overall healthy diet, full of colorful fruits and vegetables, for an optimal health.

Watch your health fellas, as Buddha once said – “Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.”

update: I have added a vitamin B12 shots case study of Eli, an old buddy who has been a vegan for most of his life.

Feel free to share your thoughts, ideas and experiences, using the comment box below.

Important Note: This article was written for informational purposes and for your own use. It is not intent to replace a medical advice. Always consult your physician if needed.

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