You may have heard of people taking vitamin B-12 supplements of shots. Do you need to take supplements, and are the shots truly of value? The reason why your body needs vitamin B-12 is to produce new red blood cells, to maintain healthy nerve function, and to fight anemia. Vitamin B-12 is also needed for the production of DNA. While weight loss clinics claim to have marvelous results from delivering B-12 shots and supplements, there is no hard scientific evidence to back this up. It's unusual to find people who have a vitamin B-12 deficiency because your body stores B-12 for up to years. Getting a vitamin B-12 shot is not going to enhance your metabolic rate or provide extra energy unless you were truly deficient or anemic, both of which can be proven with a test. Always get advice from a trusted doctor before you start taking vitamin B-12 shots or self-medicate with mega-doses of B-12, especially asking about the interactions of B-12 and medications. Natural sources of vitamin B-12 are animal products. Most Americans get plenty of vitamin B-12 in their diet simply by eating milk, eggs, meat, shellfish, and fortified products. The people who need to worry are vegans--those who don't eat meat, eggs, or dairy products. If you are vegan, you'll want to eat fortified cereals so you get enough B-12 in your diet. The recommended allowance of vitamin B-12 is between 2.6-2.8 micrograms per day. Just one cup of milk plus a suggested serving of fortified cereal can meet your vitamin B-12 needs for the day. Most people who show up with a B-12 deficiency have a problem using the B-12 they've consumed, not because they didn't eat or take enough. Your intestines may not be absorbing B-12 or your body might not be releasing B-12 that you've absorbed and stored. Most Americans are not B-12 deficient because they eat a diet rich in animcal products, and their bodies naturally store the B-12 for years.
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