Why A Vegetarian Should Have Sources Of Vitamin B12 In His Diet

It’s something we read or hear about all the time: people, in general, do not eat healthy. An average diet includes more than the right amounts of saturated fat and simple carbohydrates, and these can be a cause for the development of conditions like heart disease, obesity, and many more. Vegetarian diets can do so much for our health, and many people are into it.

There are three main types of vegetarians. The first type is the lacto vegetarian, who eats fruits, vegetables, and dairy, and doesn’t eat meat. Lacto-ovo vegetarians are just like the lacto vegetarians, but they also eat eggs. With the fruitarians, their diets consist of fruits, nuts, and seeds only. Considered the most strict vegetarian diet, vegans do not eat meat, eggs, or dairy.

Vitamin deficiency is the only downside to a vegetarian lifestyle. Vegetarians may not be getting enough of the right nutrients that the body needs. Most vegetarians don’t contain vitamin B12. This vitamin is found in meat, dairy, eggs, and poultry, and is needed for the development of red blood cells and a healthy central nervous system. The common symptoms of B-12 deficiency include dementia, fatigue, hallucinations, balance problems, and vision disturbances.

Those vegetarians who have been at it for most of their life are at a greater risk of this vitamin deficiency. Since B-12 can be reabsorbed, people who become a vegetarian later in life will typically do not display any symptoms of deficiency for as many as five years. It is a good idea to prevent deficiency from occurring because it is relatively difficult to reverse the effects of vitamin B-12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause an increase in the levels of homocysteine in the body. Homocysteine is an antioxidant, but at high levels, it’s toxic. And this is significant because as many as 20% of people with heart disease have increased levels of homocysteine in their blood.

You should take 10 micrograms of vitamin B12 daily. If you’re a vegetarian, it’s best if you get checked for this vitamin deficiency regularly. If your doctor detects that you have a B-12 deficiency, they will provide additional information about the amount of B-12 you should take.

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