Methylcobalamin. Say that three times fast. Okay. Say it once fast. Still, having trouble? That’s okay.
You don’t have to be able to say the word to already know what we’re talking about because Methylcobalamin is simply a form of Vitamin B12.
Vitamin B12…hmmm…you know you’ve heard something about Vitamin B12, but you aren’t quite sure what you heard or why you need it. That’s okay, too, because Vitamin B12, particularly the Methylcobalamin version, is the topic of our discussion today.
The first thing you need to know is that your body cannot make Vitamin B12, and you cannot live without it. Yikes!
Vitamin B12: Your Brain and Blood Need It
Here’s your first clue as to why you can’t live without Vitamin B12. Your body relies on it to
- Make red blood cells
- Produce immune cells
- Support your nervous system
- Support neurological function
- Assist in DNA synthesis
Vitamin B12 is also a key player in energy metabolism, immune function, and nerve function.
Vitamin B12: Being Deficient Is No Bueno
A B12 deficiency isn’t all that common. Between 1.5% and 15% of Americans are Vitamin B12 deficient. Finding out if you are deficient is really easy. All you have to do is get a blood test, and the results will clearly state whether your Vitamin B12 level is in the normal range.
Certain groups of people may have trouble absorbing B12 or may not get enough to it:
- Anybody over 50 has a harder time absorbing Vitamin B12. Older adults don’t have enough hydrochloric acid in their stomach to absorb it from foods that naturally contain it. “Older peoples” bodies absorb B12 from fortified foods or dietary supplements more easily than foods that naturally have it.
- People with pernicious anemia don’t have the intrinsic factor required for the body to absorb vitamin B12.
- People with digestive disorders, leaky gut, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, or who have had gastrointestinal surgery or weight loss surgery have trouble absorbing B12 and can develop a deficiency.
- Often, people with HIV have a vitamin B12 deficiency. This can occur because they decreased their intake of B12 for some reason, their bodies aren’t absorbing it properly, or their HIV medication is causing a problem.
- It’s common for people with diabetes to be B12 deficient because most people who have diabetes take Metformin which depletes vitamin B12.
Alert! Are You on a Plant-Based Diet?
Plant-based diets rock for so many reasons, but you can get in real trouble if you eat plant-based but don’t supplement with Vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is only found in animal products.
Why?
The same reason that you need to make sure to put it in your own body- plants or animals do not naturally produce vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is made by bacterial microorganisms.
Okay. So, we know that Vitamin B12 supports your red blood cells and your nervous system, but what does that mean for you?
If you are deficient in Vitamin B12, you may:
- Feel tired or weak
- Become constipated
- Lose your appetite
- Lose weight
- Become anemic
- Have nerve problems like numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
- Lose your balance
- Become depressed
- Feel confused
- Have a sore tongue or mouth
- Experience memory loss- and even dementia
- Lead to adrenal fatigue
- Reduced sperm count and motility
- Ringing in your ears
- Eventually, end up with permeant degeneration of the nerves and spinal cord
Who Wants That? Not You! Not Any of Us!
Even if you aren’t deficient in Vitamin B12, supplementing with B12 can improve your mood, boost your energy, and support muscle growth. Now, who wants that? All of us!
When used with B6, B12 can also assist a woman’s body in converting toxic homocysteine into benign homocysteine, increasing the chances of becoming pregnant.
Vitamin B12: You Gotta Have It
So, it’s obvious that even though it’s not common to be deficient in B12, it can really suck if you are. Even if you don’t have optimal levels of B12, it can slow you down, especially if you are trying to pump up your workouts. So, if your body doesn’t make it, how do you get Vitamin B12 into your body?
Food Sources of Vitamin B12 Are the First Place
If you eat plant-based meals, skip to supplementation immediately. The odds are that you already have a Vitamin B12 deficiency if you haven’t been supplementing with it.
Although plants and animals can’t make their own B12, the microorganisms that live in them can. The following foods are exceptionally high in B12:
Beef liver, kidneys, and clams are the most awesome natural sources of B12.
- Fish, especially sardines, tuna, trout, and salmon
- Red meat
- Poultry
- Eggs
- Dairy products
Many foods like breakfast cereals and nutritional yeasts are fortified with B12- that’s how important it is.
Methylcobalamin Vitamin B12: Supplementation for Optimal Levels
Yes. There are plenty of Vitamin B12 pills and liquids that you can take orally, but it’s not always easily absorbed by the body. Even when if it does get absorbed it intracellular activation is often difficult.
The most effective way to supplement Vitamin B12 is by using injections or IVs. Injections and IVs deliver nutrients straight into the muscles or blood. As a result, there’s no interruption by the digestive tract.
Injections Don’t Mean You Have to Go Sit and Wait in the Licensed Medical Provider’s Office!
We know you hate to wait. We do too. It’s such an inconvenience— and you get charged for the visit too.
That’s why we created Elite Health Online. So, our Elite Warriors can get exactly what they need to support their health and goals delivered straight to their door. How does it work?
Let’s use Vitamin B12 as an example. Whether you are deficient or need a boost to optimize your efforts, you can consult with one of our experts, order what you need, and we’ll ship it directly to your door. In this case, we would ship a 5-10 week supply of Methylcobalamin(Vit B12) 1000MCG/mL injections (and anything else you need) directly to your door. It’s that easy!
