Ingredient Spotlight: Vitamin B12
What is Vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin, meaning it is not made by the body, but is essential for healthy bodily function. The daily recommended intake of Vitamin B12 for adults is 2.4mcg (micrograms). While Vitamin B12 deficiency is rare in the overall population, older adults, pregnant women, and those eating an exclusively plant based diet need to be mindful of their Vitamin B12 consumption, since they are a the highest risk for deficiency. One serving of Nuun Instant contains the full daily recommended serving of B12 for adults as an added benefit of its rapidly rehydrating formula.
What does Vitamin B12 Do for the Body?
Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in red blood cell formation. It is also an essential ingredient in the making of DNA. As such, Vitamin B12 is closely related to cellular health and specifically cellular metabolism. Vitamin B12 supports proper nerve function, and chronic deficiency can cause permeant nerve damage. Nuun Instant contains a full daily serving of Vitamin B12 because of its role in cell metabolism and the production of red blood cells.
Where is Vitamin B12 Found?
Vitamin B12 is not made by the body, and thus needs to be consumed either in food or supplement form or risk running into a deficiency. Foods that are high in vitamin B12 are mostly animal products like seafood, eggs, meat, poultry, and dairy products. Plant based sources with B12 are almost exclusively foods that have been specifically fortified with B12. Cereals, plant-milks, and some fortified grains contain B12, but you want to be sure you’re reading the labels on these products to ensure you’re getting the recommended daily amount. When in doubt, Vitamin B12 supplements are often vegan friendly, and easy to add to your daily routine. Nuun Instant also contains an entire daily recommended serving of Vitamin B12 because of its cellular benefits.
What Happens if I Don’t Get Enough Vitamin B12?
Mild Vitamin B12 deficiency doesn’t result in very many symptoms but left untreated for a long time and it’s possible to develop anemia as a result. Other symptoms of an untreated vitamin B12 deficiency are weakness, lethargy, vision loss, gastrointestinal disruptions, memory loss, and depression. Because Vitamin B12 is found primarily in animal products like meat, milk, and eggs it is possible for those following a vegan diet to develop a Vitamin B12 deficiency. As such, vegans and vegetarians who eat a mostly vegan diet should take B12 supplements to ensure adequate levels in their system.
