Vitamin B12: Are you Deficient?

By Sonia Reece

The body requires a minimum dosage per day of Vitamin B12 in order to sufficiently prevent anemia and effectively produce red blood cells. In fact, B12 is one of the top 5 nutrients that your body needs to function at its optimum level.

Animal products like eggs, cheese and milk are were you will find B12 primarily. Vegans can supplement with foods enriched with vitamin B12, including soy and enriched cereals.

What are the signs of being deficient in vitamin B12?

If you aren't eating any of the above mentioned foods and feel weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, numbness, heart palpitations, bleeding gums, mouth sores, nausea, poor appetite and diarrhea, you might be vitamin B12 deficient.

Symptoms may present themselves after years of b12 deficiency, and usually don't manifest until years later. A deficiency of B12 can produce pernicious anemia, which can lead to Alzheimers, memory loss, confusion and even dementia.

Seniors absorb the supplement better in the sublingual form. Malabsorption of the vitamin is another reason for the deficiency. Example, to receive optimal benefits from supplementing with vitamin B12 you would combine with folic acid and vitamin c, which will assist the absorption.

So, now you might be wondering how much is ENOUGH? What is the proper dosage to prevent Vit B12 deficiency?

I was pondering the same thing and after researching several reputable sites like National Institute of Health, I was able to come up with this.

-.4 mcg- 0-6 months

-.5 mcg- 7-12 months

-.9 mcg- 1-3 years

-1.2mcg- 4-8 years

-1.8mcg- 9-13 years

-2.4mcg- age 14- older

-2.6mcg- pregnant adolescent females

-2.8mcg- lactating females

-25-100mcg- Adults over 50 (unless consistently eating vitamin B12-fortified foods)

Dosages may vary slightly from experts in the field, but two parts were clear: Our bodies were built to absorb low levels of vitamin B12 at dosages between .1mcg-1mcg per meal.

Vitamin B12 absorption can be affected by environmental factors and respond to the toxic invasion. Consuming chlorinated water regularly, for instance is one example of an environmental factor that can lower or diminish absorption of the vitamin.

We also have to take into consideration the pesticides and toxins that our plants and animals are consuming and figure out if that is also causing Vit B12 deficiency. - 17273

About the Author:

For a free education about nutrition and health check out our Free Super Foods webinar. For even more complimentary resources head to Organic Vitamins Organic Life for recipes, shopping tips and how to shop organic on a dime.

Comparing Goji Berries with Acai

By Naomi Leung-Singh

Nutrition is a key factor in our daily lives. Consuming foods that are healthy, high in antioxidants, and that make you feel better is very important. By doing this we help our bodies stay fit, and healthy. The more antioxidants you eat, the better you will feel. It's simple, you eat junk food you will feel like junk, eat healthy and you will feel healthy! In this article I will be talking about 2 players in the game that are rumored to be very high in Antioxidants. I will expose the Acai berry for the scam it is, and will praise Goji Berries for the health benefits they deliver.

The best Antioxidant I have eaten is the Goji Berry. Real Goji Berries come from the pristine valleys in Tibet. They should be sun-dried, not processed, and all natural. Another important thing to look for is the (ORAC) value in the berry. Make sure they are USDA Certified Organic, and are in fact Goji not wolfberry. Good Goji Berries contain up to 25,100 (ORAC) value. The second is Acai, which claims to bring about amazing benefits but in reality is a marketing and advertising scam. Acai has hit the scene fast, being pushed by companies with millions of advertising dollars. I am here to tell you the facts, and expose Acai for the scam it really is.

There seems to be a myth going around that Acai is the most potent and powerful Antioxidant in the world. THIS IS NOT THE CASE! T.V shows and radio stations have been flooded with false commercials about Acai. Acai generally has a (ORAC) score of 5,500. Now how can this be more powerful than a Goji Berry which may contain up to 25,100 (ORAC)? IT's NOT! This isn't even a close race folks! Blatent lies about the power of Acai are dissapointing consumers around the world. After being burned people are turning to Goji Berries, which are proven to be extremely high in Antioxidants.

Stop letting these companies hit you where it hurts. When we are in need of something to help us feel better, we want to make sure we are getting exactly what was advertised. ACAI WILL NOT DELIVER. If you are ready to change the way you feel and function then, start eating Goji Berries. Time and time again Goji Berries have proven to me that they are the real deal, and I will continue to eat them until I can't anymore. - 17273

About the Author:

If you are taking Acai berries in any form, great, but also look into and consider taking Tibet Goji Berries Please take the time to educate yourself about Tibet Goji Berries that have been revered in Asia for centuries and offer signifciant nutritional benefits.