Are You Getting Enough Vitamin B-12?

Nutrition By The Doctors Staff on 5:00 AM PST, January 23, 2013

FEATURE

Did you know that being deficient in vitamin B-12 can damage your central nervous system and lead to nerve pain? B-12 plays an essential role in our normal metabolic function and health, as well as the production of red blood cells and proper function of nerve cells. If a B-12 deficiency is untreated, it can lead to damage of nerve cells, which can cause tingling or numbness in the fingers and toes, difficulty walking, mood changes or depression, as well as memory loss, disorientation and dementia.

The highest concentrations of B-12 can be found in animal products. The following are the top five foods for vitamin B-12:

1. Clams: These sea creatures can be eaten raw, baked, steamed or fried and provide the highest amount of B-12 you can eat.
2. Liver: Liver of most any animal is full of vitamin B-12, the highest being lamb, beef, veal, moose, turkey, duck and geese.
3. Caviar: This delicacy can provide more than 10 times as much B-12 as chicken eggs.
4. Fish: In addition to its high content of Omega-3s and protein, fish are also packed with B-12.
5. Beef: Lean, fat-trimmed chuck contains the most B-12 of any other cut of beef.


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