Coach’s Corner

The symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency can either occur when there isn't enough being consumed or your body isn't properly absorbing it. The deficiency manifests itself through a type of anemia, called pernicious anemia.

The physical symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are:

1. Weakness and fatigue

2. Pallor

3. State of confusion, irritability, or depression

4. Decline in concentration(most of my clients)

5. Weight loss

6. Shortness of breath

7. Dizziness

8. Accelerated heartbeat

9. Enlarged liver and spleen

10. Tingling in hands and feet

11. A feeling of weakness in arms and legs

12. Muscle weakness

    
    

Foods rich in vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is found exclusively in animal products, which is why vegetarians are typically low in the nutrient.

• meat

• liver

• fish

• shellfish

• shellfish

• milk

• eggs

Plant foods are not a source of vitamin B12. In the past, it was mistakenly believed that some algae, such as spirulina algae, could provide this vitamin, but it has been shown that it is actually a compound that is a pseudo-vitamin B12, not comparable to that from animal sources, and is inactive in humans, not bio-available and not assimilable.

Tempeh, made from fermented soybeans, and kombucha are among the few plant foods in which vitamin B12 is present, but they do not contain enough of it to meet our requirements.