About a year ago, I began taking a daily supplement of vitamin B-12. I had just started to get well again after seven long months of battling mononucleosis and sleeping 12+ hours a day. My doctor recommended B-12 as it can help increase energy levels in people who are deficient in the vitamin, and now I swear by that little pill!
1. B12 is a nutrient that helps keep nerve and blood cells healthy.
2. This vitamin helps make DNA! (Now that’s important stuff!)
3. A deficiency in B12 can lead to fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, and megaloblastic anemia.
4. People over 50 typically have a hard time absorbing B12 naturally found in food; however, supplemental B12 can usually be absorbed.
5. Although B12 is only proven to increase energy levels in those deficient in the vitamin, I can attest through personal experience that this vitamin has allowed me to cut out naps completely and definitely gives me noticeably more energy. (Maybe I did have a deficiency?)
Bonus! 6. I have restless legs syndrome, and B-12 has significantly help me manage it!
**I am not a doctor or any other type of medical professional, although I have seen every episode of Grey’s Anatomy from seasons one through five. This is my personal experience, supported by facts from the National Institute of Health. Talk to your doctor before taking any medication or supplement regularly!
If you do decide to start taking B-12, or any other vitamin for that matter, consider purchasing Nature Made vitamins (or another brand made sans chemicals). The whole point of taking a vitamin is to get all that awesome goodness, not weird chemicals used to produce them!
I am currently looking into a few more supplemental vitamins to add to my multivitamin and B-12 regime. I hate to take medication when there is a more natural way of proactively preventing a health issue! Anyone else take B-12?
Tuesday love,
I just want to say I love how helpful your blog posts are! I plan on trying a lot of your ideas, especially how to become a morning person, cause as a college student I would love to be awake enough to take some 8 am classes and get them out of the way early.
Thanks for the encouragement! Let me know how it goes. Good luck, girl!
xo,
B
Blair,
First of all, I think your blog is smashing. I just read this post after reading your “19 Items Every College Freshman Should Buy.” I am a high school senior and the items were SO smart! Definitely on my wish/need list now.
In terms of B Vitamin, it is a GREAT supplement. My mom (a nurse) has encouraged us all to take it and I swear by it. Other natural supplements that I take are magnesium, garlic, Enzymatic Therapy Acidophilus Pearls, and D Vitamin. D Vitamin helps with depression, magnesium helps your digestive system, garlic boosts your immune system, and pearls boost immunity/digestive health. Hope these help!
Blessings,
Rachel
PS I also battled mono for 4 months this yr. Worst experience of my life! I feel your pain!
Hey Rachel!
Thanks so much for your comment. Glad that I have medical confirmation that Vitamin B is super helpful! I’ll have to look into those other supplements for sure. Glad you’re over mono–it IS the worst experience ever. Also, thank you for calling my blog “smashing,” best compliment ever. 🙂
xo,
b