“Is my vitamin b12 deficiency from my change in diet?”
Recently, I altered my diet to include less meat and dairy protein sources. I just went to the doctor and learned I am slightly low in vitamin b12. Is this from my dietary changes? I still want to keep my diet and would rather not take any supplements, so what can I do to help this?
13 Answers
A change in your diet may influence your vitamin B12 reserve in your body. Please note that the source of vitamin B12 is from meat. It is important to have a clean and healthy diet, but we may also need to consider the deficiencies that our diet may cause. Otherwise, we will not be healthy.
Vitamin B12 is naturally found in meat products. Therefore, if you have changed your diet then you may notice a decrease in your serum vitamin B12 levels. The blood test is not really an accurate test of what's actually stored in your body. It's only measuring what's circulating. Your doctor should follow that up with an MMA test. MMA levels will increase in the body at early stages of B12 deficiency. See this link for more info: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=methylmalonic_acid_blood
In addition, serum B12 levels can change depending on other factors too, so again, it's not a reliable test when checking stored levels of B12 (cellular levels).
If you are planning to be vegetarian or vegan, I recommend you to take methylcobalamin just because you can start having health issues once your cellular stores are depleted. I hope this helps.
In addition, serum B12 levels can change depending on other factors too, so again, it's not a reliable test when checking stored levels of B12 (cellular levels).
If you are planning to be vegetarian or vegan, I recommend you to take methylcobalamin just because you can start having health issues once your cellular stores are depleted. I hope this helps.
It could be from several factors, diet change, stress, and the list goes on. A Traditional Naturopathic evaluation would best find the root cause of the deficiency, and by treating or balancing that root cause would remedy the deficiency situation.
It is likely due to your dietary changes. To increase your B12 levels you will most likely need to increase your meat intake or a b12 supplement.
Low B12 can be caused by not having enough in your diet. And although meats are high in B12, another great plant source is Spirulina. B12 can also be low because of a lack of absorption from foods. Causes include low stomach acid, usually seen as we age, or if a person is on a medication which lowers stomach acid.
Hi,
Your diagnosis of a B12 deficiency could be from altering your diet, but it is also possible that you were either deficient or borderline prior to the change and the change further pushed you toward being deficient. Meat and dairy foods contain the highest about of B12. You can try incorporating more non-animal foods that contain B12. In the event you decide you would like to try a supplement in the future there are some really good whole food vitamins to help supplement even if it is only temporary to put your
levels back in a normal range. Below are some non-animal foods that have a good amount of B12 per serving.
*Foods/Sea Vegetables/Sea-Algae*
Brewer's Yeast
Nori
Wake
Chlorella
Blue-Green Algae
Spirulina
*Fish/Crustaceans*
Clams
Lobster
Halibut
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Have a wonderful evening.
Your diagnosis of a B12 deficiency could be from altering your diet, but it is also possible that you were either deficient or borderline prior to the change and the change further pushed you toward being deficient. Meat and dairy foods contain the highest about of B12. You can try incorporating more non-animal foods that contain B12. In the event you decide you would like to try a supplement in the future there are some really good whole food vitamins to help supplement even if it is only temporary to put your
levels back in a normal range. Below are some non-animal foods that have a good amount of B12 per serving.
*Foods/Sea Vegetables/Sea-Algae*
Brewer's Yeast
Nori
Wake
Chlorella
Blue-Green Algae
Spirulina
*Fish/Crustaceans*
Clams
Lobster
Halibut
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Have a wonderful evening.
There are all-natural ways to get the B12. I prefer to always get the B Complex. This is better to manage it.
B Vitamins are critically important to our health. While it is easy to maintain adequate amounts in our diet once we decrease or stop eating meat and dairy levels may drop too low. While supplements are an effective and cheap way to restore the levels there are a variety of foods you can consider. Tofu, miso, and tempeh are good fermented products that contain B12. Visit your local natural food store and inquire about the variety of healthy ways to fortify your diet with non meat and dairy sources. After a few months have your levels checked again.
Yes it most likely is. B12 comes from meat protein and is essential for B12 levels. You must take supplements if you are not getting it in your diet. If your B12 is low then you will not be able to use your methyl folate and this will affect your biochemistry and may contribute to ill health.
Well, its a bit complicated to give you the right advice because Vitamin deficiencies are a very new age idea and traditional plant medicine is all about what you look and feel and then altering your diet to include appropriate plants to treat the given symptoms and complaints.
Why? Whats wrong with supplements
Why? Whats wrong with supplements
Vitamin B12 is absorbed in an acidic environment in the stomach so a few things can affect absorption: a down-regulation of stomach acid due to stress, aging and H2 blocker or anti-acid type medications. B12 is very abundant in animal products such as beef and egg (egg yolk). It is also in green leafy vegetables but not as concentrated as in meat. Possible additions to the diet to consider that have high B12 content is sardines, mackerel, cottage cheese, milk and nutritional yeast.
Great question. B12 becomes difficult to absorb as we age. With the overwhelming amount of stress and chemical in our environment, the body has higher demands than in the past. B12 can be injected if you do not like swallowing pills and you get 100% of the vitamin without having absorption issues. B12 is in a plethora of food and drink products these days as well. For more information, please schedule a consultation at 480.361.4005
B 12 also called Cobalamin is unique because it cannot be made by plants or higher animals such as mammals and birds .. only micro organisms such as bacteria & fungi .. for this reason many of our dietary sources of this vitamin are not actually synthesizing it ..meaning.. making it themselves rather ... obtained from micro organisms living in the environment within the G.I. tract .. most B 12 vitamins in food is bound to proteins that must be cleaved before absorption .. these proteins are removed in the stomach by acids and the enzyme pepsin.. free B 12 then binds to the R-proteins and intrinsic factor that are also made with in the stomach the R-proteins are thought to protect the B 12 from destruction in the stomach .. in the intestine the R-protein is released while intrinsic factor remains bound to B12 once absorbed B12 is released from intrinsic factor & Bound to another protein called transcobalamin which begins the circulation of B 12 in the blood ..
however .. with the dietary changes .. if you are including fish within your diet.. some good sources include.. salmon .. crab .. clams(canned).. Oysters (raw).. trout .. fortified breakfast cereal ..
however .. with the dietary changes .. if you are including fish within your diet.. some good sources include.. salmon .. crab .. clams(canned).. Oysters (raw).. trout .. fortified breakfast cereal ..
