Lacking in vitality

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It’s estimated that in the USA, one in four adults (some reports say one in two) are deficient in Vitamin B12, the energy nutrient that your body needs to carry out essential functions. It helps keep the body’s nerve and blood cells healthy and helps make DNA, the genetic material in all cells. It also helps prevent a type of anaemia called megaloblastic anaemia which makes people tired and weak and is essential in myelin formation - myelin is the fatty white substance that surrounds the axon of some nerve cells, forming an electrically insulating layer. It is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system.

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So all in all, Vitamin B12 is highly important.

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If you’ve got insufficient B12 levels in your blood, your immune system will be compromised and your health will become vulnerable and defenceless against disease. Daily on day life may become more of a struggle as you experience debilitating symptoms such as:

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Being out of breath

Changes or loss of some sense of touch

Extreme tiredness or fatigue

Fatigue and lack of energy

Feeling faint

Feeling less pain

Feelings of apathy and lack of motivation

Headache

Lack of appetite

Lack of energy or lethargy

Memory problems

Mental fogginess

Mood changes, irritability, depression or psychosis

Mood swings

Mouth ulcers

Muscle weakness

Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

Sore, red tongue

Symptoms of dementia

Tingling in your extremities

Vision problems

Walking problems

Yellowing of the skin

So, if you have a combination of some of the above, or are finding it difficult to get through life, do see your medical practitioner.

Without adequate amounts of Vitamin B12, your body’s ability to perform its job deteriorates. Almost every aspect of life will be affected with you having insufficient physical, emotional and mental energy to get through the day.

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The more serious consequences of Vitamin B12 deficiency is that it may put in you in danger of significant health problems such as anemia, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease,  dementia, depression, multiple sclerosis, and  sleep problems,

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How much vitamin B12 do you need

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The amount of vitamin B12 you need each day depends on your age. Average daily recommended amounts for different ages are listed below in micrograms (mcg):

Birth to 6 months 0.4 mcg

Infants 7-12 months - 0.5 mcg

Children 1-3 years - 0.9 mcg

Children 4-8 years - 1.2 mcg

Children 9-13 years - 1.8 mcg

Teens 14-18 years - 2.4 mcg

Adults - 2.4 mcg

Pregnant teens and women - 2.6 mcg

Breastfeeding teens and women - 2.8 mcg

Treatment

Once diagnosed, vitamin B12 deficiency can usually be treated successfully with B12 injections and sometimes with B12 tablets.

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Vitamin B12 is found in almost all multivitamins. Dietary supplements that contain only vitamin B12, or vitamin B12 with nutrients such as folic acid and other B vitamins, are also available. Check the Supplement Facts label to determine the amount of vitamin B12 provided.

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Vitamin B12 is also available in sublingual forms (ie dissolved under the tongue). Sublingual forms are no better absorbed than pills that are swallowed.

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A prescription form of vitamin B12 can be administered as an injection.  The number and frequency of injections will be advised by your medical practitioner.

Nutritional

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Vitamin B12 is found in a wide variety of animal foods and is added to some fortified foods. Plant foods have no vitamin B12 unless they are fortified. You can get recommended amounts of vitamin B12 by eating a variety of foods including the following:

Beef liver and clams, which are the best sources of vitamin B12.

Fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and other dairy products, which also contain vitamin B12.

Some breakfast cereals, nutritional yeasts and other food products that are fortified with vitamin B12. To find out if vitamin B12 has been added to a food product, check the product labels.

Metaphysical

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At a metaphysical level, the level of cause, you are likely to have a “Yes … but …” attitude to life. You are likely to

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• berate and devalue yourself

• experience a range of feelings of sadness, repressed anger, and fear.

• feel unfulfilled;

• find it difficult to find your purpose in life

• have lost the joy of living and have trouble accepting life

You’ll find it easy to criticise, to be discouraged, to want to give up but know you can’t and sometimes you may just want others to take over your life.

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You are likely to be quite creative and gifted but hold back on sharing these with others.

Beliefs you may have to work on

I am angry at myself

I am depressed

I can’t change things

I just don’t have the energy to live

I don’t know what to do in life

Life is a struggle, pain, too hard

I have to control …

But I can’t control

I must / have to be right

I must do it myself if it is to be right

I’m not enough

I’m not good enough (yet is gifted)

There is no joy in life

I don’t really like myself

I don’t love myself

Themes to explore

Finding inner peace

Find your passion and live it

Get more genuine joy into life

Give up on pain and suffering – life does not have to be a struggle

Lead a more divinely connected life

Loving yourself unconditionally

Meditation

Prayer