Why Vitamin B12 Is Important: Often we ignore important things like nutrition in the pursuit of junk food or fried food. To spread these important points of nutrition, ‘National Nutrition Week’ is celebrated every year from 1 September to 7 September. This week is celebrated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) in collaboration with the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB). During this entire week, there is talk of promoting healthy eating habits and keeping the need of nutrition in the body in focus. If we talk about our body, then a very important vitamin is Vitamin B-12. Let us understand what health problems can people face due to its deficiency.
This is the only vitamin that is not produced in the body
Vitamin B-12 is very important for our body. If your body does not have sufficient amount of vitamin B-12, then you can fall prey to many diseases. Vitamin B12 is also called cobalamin. Actually, this is the only vitamin that our body cannot make. At present, vitamin B-12 deficiency is a common problem for people. Let us tell you that vitamin B-12 makes blood cells. At the same time, it also works to make DNA. Men and women have vitamin between 200 pg/mL and 900 pg/mL. This comes under the normal level of vitamin B-12. On the other hand, if we talk about older people, then its level is between 300 to 350 pg/mL. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause anemia, which causes fatigue and weakness. Vitamin B12 is also beneficial for mental health. Its deficiency can increase the risk of depression and mental health problems.
Today, under ‘National Nutrition Week’, we are talking about Vitamin B12.
Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Fatigue and weakness
breathlessness
Numbness or tingling
The problem of deep thinking
Depression and mental problems
Sources of Vitamin B12
These sources will fill the gap
Many household items can be taken to meet the deficiency of vitamin B12 in the body. Meat (especially pork, liver and other organ meats), eggs, fortified cereals, milk, diet clams, oysters, tuna and salmon are considered good sources of vitamin B12. People who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet may be at a higher risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. In such a situation, they may need to include vitamin B12-rich foods or supplements in their diet. Some foods such as vitamin B12-enriched cereals, soy milk and other plant-based products are available.
Talking about Vitamin B-12, Dr. Yugam Prasad Shandilya, Senior Resident, ESIC (Indira Gandhi) Hospital, Jhilmil, Delhi, told IANS, ‘It is very important to pay attention to the symptoms of Vitamin B-12 to know which people have the problem. In such a case, its deficiency includes symptoms like tingling in the hands, ulcers in the mouth, feeling very tired or weak and anxiety.’ He said that in such a case, the patient may also face problems like headache, feeling faint. Apart from this, due to the deficiency of this vitamin, there is pain in the hands and feet along with a little difficulty in seeing. In such a case, anemia and brain-related diseases can also occur. Problems like weakening of bones also occur in this.
Dr. Yugam Prasad Shandilya said, ‘In such a situation, the digestion of most patients is not good, they have a lot of trouble in digesting food. In such a situation, if you are facing any of these problems, then consult your doctor immediately.’ Let us tell you that the problem of Vitamin B-12 is being seen in people of all age groups. The main reason behind this is that people do not get the right amount of vitamins and minerals from their food.
Tags: eat healthy, vitamin b
FIRST PUBLISHED : September 2, 2024, 17:43 IST
