Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is a bacteria made by microorganisms, writes Dr. Gina Shaw of the Internet community Living and Raw Foods, which educates the public on the benefits of a raw diet. Vitamin B12 absorption takes place in the digestive tract including the mouth, throat and esophagus. Shaw states that antibiotics, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes and increased stress levels raise a person's vitamin B12 needs.
Significance
A review in a 2004 issue of "Psychology Today" writes that research found that vitamin B12 was successful in treating some forms of depression. Vitamin B12 is helpful in reducing stress because it promotes healthy nervous system function. When the nervous system is fostered, the adrenal glands do not secrete as much cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone produced during times of stress that increase one's appetite and put the body in a fight or flight state.
Considerations
A deficiency in vitamin B12 has many physical and mental symptoms including loss of balance, tingling sensations in hands and feet, loss of memory, fatigue, anemia, weakness and loss of balance. In addition to these symptoms, a vitamin B12 deficiency can hinder a person's ability to handle and manage stress and stress factors such as family issues, work deadlines and financial problems.
Sources
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin B12 is found in animal products such as meat, fish, eggs, milk and poultry, but it is typically not found in plant foods. However, some foods, such as cereals, are fortified with vitamin B12. Because B12 is more prevalent in animal products, vegetarians and vegans are at the greatest risk of being deficient.
Expert Insight
Incorporating alternative and holistic treatments into traditional therapies for stress is becoming more prevalent in the medical arena, shares Dr. Podell, a leading expert on integrative medicine and founder of the Podell Medical Practice. Adding vitamin B12 helps improve methylation pathways, which are necessary to help your body and mind adapt to environmental changes. Other stress management techniques that Dr. Podell recommends are deep-breathing exercises and visualization.
Misconceptions
A misconception among the vegan community, states the website VeganHealth, is that vitamin B12 can be stored in the body for years. The site states that when a person first becomes a vegan, they may have up to a year or two of vitamin B12 reserved. However, it is no more than this, unless the person consumed large amounts of vitamin B12 far past the recommended daily allowance for years prior to becoming a vegan.
References
- "Psychology Today": Be Healthy with B12
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B12
- Living and Raw Foods: The Vitamin B12 Issue by Dr. Gina Shaw
- Vegan Health: Myths
- DrPodell.org: Alternative Treatments for Anxiety, Depression, and Stress-Related Disorders: Dr. Podell's Perspective on Brain, Mind, and Mood
