VITAMIN B-12
|
Dear Health Conscious Reader,
If you’re suffering from “mystery symptoms” like low energy, brain fog, moodiness, difficulty sleeping or just a vague feeling of malaise — chances are you’re suffering from a vitamin deficiency that affects 1 in 2 older adults.
Yet tragically, doctors rarely detect this deficiency until it manifests as difficult to treat cognitive issues, cardiovascular problems, low energy issues, mood and stress disorders…or worse. What’s more, doctors typically misdiagnose the symptoms of this deficiency and then prescribe drugs that do nothing to address the problem, but instead have plenty of side effects that only make you feel worse! This is especially tragic since many people, especially senior citizens, are trying their hardest to take FEWER pharmaceutical drugs…not more!
What I’m talking about here is vitamin B12 deficiency, and if you’ve experienced any of the symptoms I described above, it’s imperative that you take action NOW to get your B12 levels up to a healthy level — before irreversible damage occurs. The good news is that B12 deficiency can be remedied easily, quickly and inexpensively. But don’t run out and grab the first bottle of B12 you see — it’s crucial that you take the right kind of B12, otherwise you’ll be wasting time, money and an incredible opportunity to revitalize your health.
Are YOU Vitamin B12 Deficient?
The older you are, the higher your risk is for a B12 deficiency, but younger people aren’t exempt from harm. In a shocking recent Tufts University study, researchers found that nearly 1 in 4 people over age 26 are at least borderline deficient in B12 and may already be experiencing symptoms as a result. And sadly, if you’re over 50, your odds of suffering from a B12 deficiency are no better than a flip of the coin.
| SIGNS YOU HAVE A B12 DEFICIENCY | |||||
| Low energy and weakness | Memory problems | ||||
| Confusion or “fuzziness” | Irritability and mood swings | ||||
| Persistent sleep problems | Dizziness or lightheadedness | ||||
| Digestive problems | Weak immunity | ||||
| Hearing and vision loss | Tingling in the extremities | ||||
Why Your Body Needs B12
Your body depends on vitamin B12 for energy production. It’s crucial to the metabolic process that converts carbohydrates and fats into energy — this is why it’s often called the “energy vitamin. B12 is also one of the building blocks your body uses to produce DNA, so it’s crucial for healthy cell growth and repair — which is key to aging the right way, not the WRONG way.
Additionally, vitamin B12 keeps your immune system functioning optimally, regulates mood and sleep cycles, and mitigates the harmful effects of the toxic stress marker homocysteine, making it a vital player in maintaining heart health and more. But new research is showing that B12’s most vital function of all may be protecting your brain and entire nervous system by keeping your nerves communicating in an optimal manner. This is especially important since cognitive decline, especially among seniors, is reaching epidemic proportions.
How B12 Protects Your Brain
I think it’s safe to say that many of us expect to live well into our 80s or beyond. But did you know that if you live to be 80, your chances of suffering from severe loss of cognitive function are 1 in 2? Not coincidentally, roughly the same number of older adults is deficient in B12! The good news is that getting enough B12 can drastically cut your risk!
Emerging research is showing that age-related cognitive decline and memory loss are linked to a process in the body that involves a decrease in brain mass. That’s right, your brain actually shrinks as you age!
A recent landmark study showed that vitamin B12 supplementation slows the accelerated rate of brain shrinkage and declining cognitive function in older individuals. Another study showed that older people with higher levels of B12 in their blood had bigger, healthier brains and scored higher on cognitive tests than those with lower levels. This research, in my opinion, is simply amazing and cannot be ignored.
Take B12 to SUPERCHARGE Your Days
As I mentioned, vitamin B12 helps your body produce energy by metabolizing carbs and fats in the food you eat. The effects of replenishing your B12 stores on your energy levels can be dramatic. Most people report significant increases in energy, stamina, motivation and ability to focus within days of beginning to take a B12 supplement.
B12 is also needed for the production of the important neurotransmitter serotonin, which regulates mood, sleep and appetite. A study from the National Institute of Aging found women with low B12 levels were more than twice as likely to develop depression as women with normal B12 status. Many people find that taking B12 helps them to get the deep, rejuvenating sleep they need at night, so they wake up feeling refreshed. This not only has a positive impact on your energy levels throughout the day, but also affects your mood and outlook.
How B12 Saves Your Heart, Bones, Vision and Hearing
Another major benefit of having enough vitamin B12 in your body is reduced levels of the toxic stress marker homocysteine. Not only does lowering homocysteine levels make you feel less stressed, studies have shown that it also confers significant protection for your heart, bones, vision and hearing. Homocysteine is known to damage the inside of blood vessels and arteries, making elevated homocysteine levels a serious risk factor for heart disease.
Another negative health impact of homocysteine is that it weakens bones by interfering with collagen cross-linking, the molecular “stitching” that makes bones strong and flexible. In one study, people with low B12 levels had lower-than-average bone mineral density. Other exciting studies show that B12 also helps to build stronger bones by aiding osteoblasts, the cells that build bone.
Additionally, B12’s homocysteine-lowering effects help it protect your vision and hearing. Harvard researchers found at least a 34{1efd15bfd88256461d107bda7fd0826a71a6cbefab4cde58d5a01a85daee0a13} decreased risk of vision loss and improved retinal blood vessel function for women aged 40 and older who supplemented with B12. And yet another study found that low blood levels of vitamin B12 were linked to a higher risk of hearing loss in women in their 60s. Researchers have concluded that homocysteine may damage the delicate cells that transmit sound waves in the inner ear.
Why Are So Many People B12 Deficient?
The reason that the vast majority of people end up B12 deficient has nothing to do with their B12 intake, but rather, their ability to absorb B12 from food. As you get older, the lining of your stomach gradually loses its ability to produce hydrochloric acid, which you need to absorb B12 from food. The use of certain drugs can also lower your stomach acid secretion, further hampering B12 absorption. Since roughly 65{1efd15bfd88256461d107bda7fd0826a71a6cbefab4cde58d5a01a85daee0a13} of Americans take pharmaceutical drugs on a daily basis, you can see why so many people are B12 deficient.
B12 Deficiency Can Strike Anyone, But You Are at Higher Risk if You
| Are over the age of 45 | Take acid-blocking medications | ||||
| Are a vegan or vegetarian | Are or have ever been anemic | ||||
| Suffer from digestive problems | Have low stomach acid | ||||
| Take certain diabetes drugs | Drink alcoholic beverages | ||||