You hear all about them in every day conversation but what do you really know about vitamins? Everyone knows that they’re good for us but how are they good for us? Give us the details, please!
Vitamin B12, or Cobalamin, is water-soluble and acts as a coenzyme in the metabolism of folate and more. It’s been found to support cardiovascular and neurological health, protect nerve cells, and plays a role in the synthesis of DNA and red blood cells.
B12 can be found in animal products because it can only be made by bacteria in their gastrointestinal tracts. Seafood, beef, fish, and eggs are main sources of Cobalamin in foods.
B12 is the most chemically complex vitamin and the only one to contain cobalt — a metal that’s scarce in your body. Cobalamin assists in maintaining your health in many ways; it helps in the metabolizing of folate, the synthesis of DNA and red blood cells, maintaining normal mood as well as maintaining healthy homocysteine levels, which protects your heart and brain.
Absorbing Vitamin B12 isn’t an easy task – a two-stage process enables you to take it in. Microorganisms make the B12 you get in your diet, which means they’re attached to proteins. First, your body breaks the Cobalamin from the protein with which it came into the body. Then, it combines the vitamin with a different protein made in the stomach. But the two steps are worth it to make sure it gets absorbed.
Vegetarians and vegans are susceptible to Vitamin B12 deficiency because they don’t eat meat, which is the simplest way to find it and the easiest way to get it into your body. At that point, you would definitely need to supplement this vitamin as part of their daily food routine – which is good because there have been no observable adverse effects when ingesting high levels of Cobalamin.
So let’s review – Cobalamin is an essential water-soluble vitamin critical for cardiovascular and neurological health as well as nerve cell protection and synthesis of DNA and blood cells. All extremely good reasons to make Vitamin B12 a part of your daily life and nutritional plan.