My friend, Jocelyn, just wasn’t feeling herself.
She works full-time and is the mom of two, so she expected to feel tired. But the exhaustion just wouldn’t let up, and soon it was joined by tingling and numbness in her hands and feet.
She started forgetting simple things like grocery lists and dinner dates. Words were right on the tip of her tongue, but her mind would suddenly go blank.
Jocelyn ignored her symptoms, as many busy women would, until a bout of weakness literally brought her to her knees. She was bringing her kids home from church when she fell down, so faint that she couldn't stand back up.
It was terrifying for her whole family, and that’s what it took for her to finally admit something was wrong…
A Common Issue That's Commonly Missed
After testing, it turned out my friend Jocelyn was suffering from a severe B12 deficiency.
It had been building, unnoticed, for years. She was so caught up in taking care of others that she put her own health last – with near-disastrous consequences! (She needed a little Warrior Mom training…)
Jocelyn wasn’t a vegetarian, as many people diagnosed with B12 deficiency are. However, she'd taken acid reflux medication for years. Research now proves that “the little purple pill” prevents your body from absorbing crucial nutrients, including vitamins B12 and D3.1
After supplementing with high doses of B12, Jocelyn’s feeling much better, but her experience was easily avoidable…
Why B12 Is So Important
There’s a reason my friend felt so awful when her B12 was low!
Vitamin B12 is extremely important for the function of your nervous system, as well as the creation of DNA and RNA. DNA and RNA are the building blocks of every single cell in your body, and a B12 deficiency can wreak havoc with everything from your digestion to your mood.
Studies prove that low B12 also causes an increase in risk for heart disease.2 And it’s not just your heart health at risk – B12 affects your mental wellbeing, too.
In fact, B12 deficiency has also been linked to depression and anxiety disorders.3 Researchers are only now beginning to understand the role of B12 in autism, schizophrenia, and other mental illness, but it’s clear there’s a connection between low B12 levels and increased symptoms.4
How to Tell if You’re At Risk
So how do you know if you’re getting enough B12? Take this easy one-minute quiz to find out!
Why B12 Deficiencies Happen
Typically, our bodies get vitamin B12 from eating meat. If your diet doesn’t include meat or fish, B12 deficiency is unavoidable unless you take a B12 supplement.5
The same applies to those with stomach issues or who take medications for acid reflux or ulcers – those conditions and medicines prevent your body from absorbing B12, even when you’re a meat-eater.6
Drinking alcohol regularly also stops your body from absorbing the B12 in your diet.7 If you’re in the habit of wine with dinner or a nightcap before bed, you’ll need to supplement.
And sometimes, you can do everything right and still experience B12 deficiency simply because you’re getting older! Cases of B12 deficiency rise dramatically with age, and the symptoms are easily confused for Alzheimer’s or other memory disorders.8,9
The Simple Solution
The great news about supplementing with B12 is that you will start to see results almost immediately! There’s also very little chance of overdosing when used properly because any excess vitamin B12 is automatically flushed away by your kidneys without any negative effects.10
The best way to take a B12 supplement is with a supplement or as a shot. Since most people don’t want to go to the doctor for weekly injections, a supplement is the easy answer.
I designed B-Complete to include vitamin B12 along with the eight other B vitamins, which work together as a team. Unlike other formulas, B-Complete provides pre-activated forms of B vitamins that the body can immediately use.*
We've added choline and trimethylglycine to B-Complete, which allow the body to fully utilize the eight B vitamins to maximize their potential.*
This unique formulation helps sustain a healthy metabolism and support energy production by helping the body properly utilize amino acids, fats, and carbohydrates.* B-Complete may also help balance hormones, support a strong immune system, promote healthy blood cells and joints, and help maintain healthy blood sugar levels.*
You get all the benefits of vitamin B12 – along with the seven other B vitamins as well as choline and trimethylglycine – in one easy-to-take capsule. Taken daily, B-Complete can support optimal mental health, brain activity, and feelings of well-being.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The views in this blog by JJ Virgin should never be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please work with a healthcare practitioner concerning any medical problem or concern.
References
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10369631
2 http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=391361
3 http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=207557
4 http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0146797
5 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23356638
6 http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1788456
7 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20206879
8 http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/71/2/514.long
9 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25523421
10 http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-b12-cobalamin
