Vitamin B12 Benefits for Life!

By Chris C Chamberlain 

Vitamin B12 is probably best known for its numerous health benefits, particularly providing increased energy. Vitamin B12 is necessary for converting stored carbohydrates into glucose which produces energy and leads to a decrease in fatigue and lethargy in the body. B12′s ability to instantly boost energy levels is by far the most common and most powerful benefit of taking vitamin B12 supplements. The recommended therapeutic amount is 1000 micrograms a day. Another one of the best known benefits of vitamin B12 is that it has been shown to increase energy thus helping promote weight loss.

Vitamin B12 is essential for the healthy development of red blood cells in the body. Vitamin B12 deficiency can ultimately result in a blood disorder known as anemia which can cause permanent and severe nerve and brain damage. One recent study showed that as many as 40% of adults suffered from some form of Vitamin B12 deficiency. High vitamin B12 level in elderly people has also been shown to protect against brain atrophy or shrinkage, associated with Alzheimer's disease and impaired cognitive function.

Aside from maintaining healthy red blood cells and nervous system, vitamin B12 is needed in order for our bodies to absorb folic acid (also known as vitamin B9) which helps release energy. Vitamin B12 normally plays a significant role in the metabolism of every cell of the body allowing for energy production which is why taking vitamin B12 for energy is so popular.

People especially at risk for Vitamin B12 Deficiency include older adults with a condition known as Atrophic Gastritis. This condition affects 30-50% of adults over age 50 and impairs their ability to absorb vitamin B12 from natural foods. Vitamin B12 supplements are recommended for people in this group. People with Pernicious Anemia are also at high risk of Vitamin B12 deficiency because this is a condition where the intestines can't produce the enzyme that allows for vitamin B12 absorption. Pernicious Anemia only affects 1-2% of adults and can only be treated with vitamin B12 injections or shots.

Vegans and Vegetarians are the other big group at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency because vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal products. As a result vegans are especially at risk of not getting enough vitamin B12 in their diet. There are some natural vegetarian foods high in vitamin b12 but vitamin B12 supplements could make sense for this group.

Aside from people who have actual Vitamin B12 deficiencies, there are a number of known Vitamin B12 benefits for healthy adults that takemore than the minimum daily value of Vitamin B12. Everyone knows that B12 is a great energy booster. Margaret Thatcher had injections of B12 to sustain her famously high energy levels.She apparently found the injections so useful that she had one on the morning she told her cabinet she was going to resign. While on tour, Madonna required Justin Timberlake to start taking Vitamin B12 shots after he started complaining about low energy levels. It works by enabling your red blood cells to carry oxygen more efficiently. This leads to improved cognitive ability, more energy, healthier skin. A well oxygenated cell is one that won't tire quickly.

For those reasons, Vitamin B12 is probably the most underestimated vitamin available to us. Combined with the fact that 40% of otherwise healthy adults have some levels of vitamin B12 deficiency and we have a compelling reason to start thinking about a regular supplement to ensure we're ready to live our fullest life.

For years I suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome and went to the doctor expecting something to be really wrong with me. I was amazed when she prescribed a vitamin B12 injection and even more amazed after how it made me feel. [http://www.VitaminB12forLife.com] is a free resource for anyone seeking more info on Vitamin B12 benefits [http://www.vitaminb12forlife.com/vitamin-b12-benefits-2/], Vitamin B12 supplements and which ones are best.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Chris_C_Chamberlain/1204050

http://ezinearticles.com/?Vitamin-B12-Benefits-for-Life!&id=6642448 

10 foods containing vitamin B12

g: gram

μg: microgram

Beef liver	85 g >>18μg
Sardines	85 g >> 7.6 μg
Beef	85g >> 1.5 μg
Tuna	85g>> 2.5 μg
cheese	42.5 g>> 1.4 μg
Cottage cheese	40g >>1.4 μg
Lam	85g >> 2.07 μg
Milk	150g >> 1.1 μg
Eggs	1 egg >> 0.40 μg
Salmon	85g >>  1.1 μg

Health and Nutrition Facts    by Gladys Alvarez

in Health / Nutrition    (submitted 2012-03-12)

On the World Wide Web today, we have information overload on what health, nutrition, organic eating, weight loss plans, supplements, sport nutrition actually is. Learn the facts about healthy eating tips that will make you more healthy and fit starting today!

There are a great number of health and nutrition facts that are a "given". We are all aware of the many rules that have been handed down for generations about nutrition, but we ignore them. We know, "You are what you eat!" but we eat snack cakes and doughnuts and drink soda pop and chow down on corn dogs, anyway!

The very unfortunate thing about this is that the more we do it, the more we want to do it. Processed foods have an addictive quality that just causes people to never be satisfied. Eating poorly leads to lethargy and poor health that lead to even more lethargy and poor health. It's necessary to break the cycle and introduce whole nutrition to get our bodies clean, active and performing at optimum levels.

People often think that it's too much trouble to eat whole foods. Processed foods are pretty much pure poison, but they're cheap and convenient - or at least that's how they are marketed to us. However, if you take a step back and look at the hype, you are bound to see the truth. Even though a lot of preparation of processed foods has been done for you, a lot of that preparation consists of things you would never choose to do yourself, such as the addition of chemicals, artificial colors, central nervous system wrecking hydrogenated oils, and diabetes producing high fructose corn syrup.

Whole foods are truly convenient! Fresh fruits and vegetables come in handy, natural, often consumable packaging. Preparing the most healthful whole foods takes the least amount of work and cooking for the greatest amount of nutrition and true, wholesome flavor. Although whole foods may cost a little bit more to buy, you will surely see your doctor bills reduced when you change your diet from ground up chemicals and additives to simple, pure, whole food.

When you eat processed foods, your body has to struggle to try to get rid of all the junk that's ground into processed products. On top of that, your body has to try to sustain life on a severely depleted level of nutrition found in dead ingredients. This is a drain on your energy that causes you to just want to sit around and do nothing. The more inactive your are, the lower your metabolism level will be and the less calories you will burn. That's a great recipe for obesity, depression and poor health.

When you eat whole foods, your body works hard in a wholesome, healthful way. It gets natural exercise from processing whole natural foods and reaping every bit of nutrition and energy available. When you eat fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and other high quality protein sources, you are eating foods that are filled with life and that give you life. That spark of life will give you energy and make you want to get up, get out and live your life.

We all know, "You are what you eat!" So which would you rather be, a sluggish sack of chemicals and additives or a living, vibrant being filled with life?

http://goarticles.com/article/Health-and-Nutrition-Facts/6212773/