vitamin b12 is an essential nutrient that plays a key role in the human body
it helps with the production of red blood cells and keeps the nervous system functioning properly
it's important to remember that our body does not create vitamin b12 on its own
which means that we must obtain this nutrient from the foods that we eat in our diet
unfortunately a portion of the adult population is not getting enough of this important vitamin which
can lead to a number of physical and psychological problems this is known as having a vitamin b12
deficiency and can lead to many unwanted signs and symptoms with that said you're probably wondering
what exactly are the most common causes and how can we avoid a vitamin b12 deficiency
that is exactly what we are going to talk about in this video so if you're ready let's get into it
just a quick reminder we are not doctors this video is for informational purposes only
as previously mentioned vitamin b12 aka cobalamin is one of the eight b vitamins that play a role
in our body systems it's a water vitamin that is involved in cell metabolism and the production
of dna when our body doesn't absorb enough of this vitamin this is known as having a deficiency which
can be detrimental to your overall health in order to avoid a b12 deficiency you must first know and
try to avoid the most common causes the number one cause of a b12 deficiency is pretty obvious
and it is eating a diet that lacks this vitamin with that said thankfully vitamin b12 deficiency
isn't very common in the united states due to the regular diet of most people
however it is more common amongst vegans and vegetarians because plant-based foods do not
typically contain this vitamin some examples of foods that are high in vitamin b12 include meat
fish poultry eggs dairy products and fortified breakfast cereals for those unable to get it
from their diet this vitamin can be consumed as an oral supplement injection or nasal spray
with that said vitamin b12 is generally considered to be safe
however this is something that must be discussed and should be recommended by your physician
another common cause of vitamin b12 deficiency is simply your age that's right unfortunately
as we get older it increases the chances of a b12 deficiency researchers believe that adults
over the age of 50 may not be able to absorb this vitamin quite as well as in their younger years
this indicates that they may need to consume a higher amount in order to keep their levels up
however it's important to ask your doctor what is right for your individual needs another cost to be
aware of is pernicious anemia this is a disorder that causes the immune system to attack the cells
in your body that are responsible for creating the protein that is required to absorb vitamin b12
this can be detrimental because vitamin b12 is required to create red blood cells within the body
so when a deficiency is present a lack of red blood cells causes a decrease in oxygen transports
which can result in a number of unwanted signs and symptoms certain intestinal disorders can
also cause a vitamin b12 deficiency as well that is because they can affect the small intestine
and make it difficult to facilitate the absorption of vitamin b-12 in the body some examples include
celiac disease crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis each may cause
different signs and symptoms and may require different treatment methods however what they
all share in common is that they can limit b12 absorption which can result in a deficiency
you should know that certain medications can also cause a deficiency of this vitamin
that is because they can lower the amount of b12 in the body and this is especially true for some
drugs when used over a long period of time some examples include metformin colchicine proton pump
inhibitors anti-epileptic drugs and even some antibiotics this is not to suggest that you
should stop taking any prescription medications however just be aware that some of these drugs
could be contributing to a vitamin b12 deficiency another cause that we should mention is certain
surgical procedures this is especially true for those that involve the stomach or small intestine
these anatomical changes may result in less b12 absorption which can cause a deficiency in fact
studies found that a b12 deficiency is found in up to 62 percent of patients
who undergo this type of surgical procedure again if your body is deficient in vitamin b12
it can lead to a number of serious unwanted signs and symptoms this is a topic that we've covered in
a separate video here on our channel but some of the most common examples include anemia fatigue
pale skin mood swings dizziness blurred vision mouth pain and tingling in your hands and feet
these can all be avoided or mitigated by knowing the most common causes and taking
action to ensure that your body is taking in the required amount of vitamin b12 that it needs
so just to give a quick recap the most common causes of a b12 deficiency to be aware of
include age pernicious anemia intestinal disorders certain medications surgical procedures and eating
a diet that lacks vitamin b12 again we've talked more about vitamin b12 deficiency more in depth in
other videos on our channel so definitely go check those out if you want to learn more but real quick
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millions of people around the world are trying to avoid the signs and symptoms that can come from a
vitamin b12 deficiency hopefully the information that you learned in this video can help you do
just that the first step is knowing the specific causes so that you can do your best to avoid them
if possible with that said if you suspect that you or a family member may be suffering from a b12
deficiency the best course of action to take is to seek guidance from a qualified medical physician
just a quick reminder we are not doctors and this video should not be taken as medical advice
again this video is for informational purposes only but hopefully you learned a thing or two
and hopefully you're now one step closer to improving your overall health and thus improving
the overall quality of your life if so be sure to let us know down in the comment section below
and if you want to learn even more about this topic we do have a full guide on our website
i will drop a link to it right below this video down in the description we cover a wide range of
similar topics as well that i definitely think you will find to be useful again everything you
need including all the links can be located below this video in the description thank you
so much for watching all the way to the end have a blessed day and as always breathe easy my friend
you