Do you know what it means to have weakness, fatigue or light-headedness along with rapid heartbeat, pale skin and a sore tongue? These are some symptoms of B 12 deficiency! We often don't care to check if our body is getting the right nutrition from the food we eat. This can be very dangerous. Something that can be taken care of easily could lead you to the hospital. To avoid that it is best to know the B 12 vitamins more closely.

For you to understand its importance, let me first tell you what its major function is. B 12 cares for your brain and nervous system while helping in formation of blood in your body. It is advised to be taken orally for best results. Different countries have set different amounts as minimum requirements of the human body. For instance in the U.S it is suggested to have  2 to 3 µg per day where as U.K recommends 1.5 µg per day. However, the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition recommends 6 µg per day, for an adult depending on his or her calorie intake each day.

The nutrition measurements for an expecting mother are completely different. The recommended amount of vitamin B 12 in pregnant women is 2.6 µg per day and 2.8 µg during lactation periods. If these requirements are fulfilled, both the mother and the baby can experience the bliss of good health.

Now let us see how we can prevent our body from being deprived of this essential vitamin. meat, poultry, seafood, dairy products, and eggs will not allow B 12  to escape from your body. If being a vegetarian is worrying you then I have an alternative. A bowl full of  cereal fortified with vitamin B12 for breakfast can do the magic for you! So, make B 12 you best friend and enjoy a long and healthy life. 
 

- Kruti Beesam