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Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble nutrient that is vital to the body’s overall wellbeing. It contains the element of cobalt. A scientific name for vitamin B12 is “cobalamin”. Unlike many vitamins, B12 is not found in animals or plants; Vitamin B12 is exclusively produced by bacteria. When animals consume plants or drink water contaminated by these specific bacteria, the vitamin ends up being stored in their body, mostly in the liver.
Vitamin B12 assists the body in more ways than one – although one of the key functions it performs is to help in the making of red blood cells. These cells help deliver oxygen to the body’s vital organs, including the heart and brain. This oxygen is important in providing you with the necessary energy to get through each day. Vitamin B12 also assists in white blood cell production. White Blood Cells are crucial to keeping the immune system strong. Another way vitamin B12 benefits the body is by properly maintaining the nervous system and helping to keep nerve cells healthy, which keeps the brain functioning the way it should. The B12 vitamin also assists in the creation and regulation of DNA, which is present in every cell in the body. Since this nutrient is also a very powerful antioxidant, it helps fight off free radicals which researchers have said can lead to cancer.
By making sure you do have enough vitamin B12 in your body, you can avoid permanent nerve damage with associated symptoms like pins and needles, numbness, tingling, memory loss, attention deficit disorder, depression, dizziness, fatigue and mood swings.
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