Breaking news: The US has recently approved a new study aimed at preventing Alzheimer’s disease before it starts ravaging the brain. In a move aimed at decreasing health care costs, some new Alzheimer’s disease treatments may prevent early onset Alzheimer’s in people who are prone for dementia.

An Alzheimer’s cure by 2025

As part of the US plan to cure Alzheimer’s by a 2025 deadline, researchers are studying the effect of an experimental drug on people who are genetically inclined to develop Alzheimer’s disease.  Once brain atrophy begins, it’s impossible to stop the progression of this fatal disease, but by introducing a preventive treatment ten years beforehand, scientists hope to delay or possibly prevent dementia symptoms from occurring.

Diabetes-Alzheimer’s disease

Based on a theory that links diabetes with increased risk for Alzheimer’s, scientists have also developed an insulin nasal spray designed for dementia patients. Researchers are testing the drug, looking for improvements short-term memory, reasoning, and attentiveness in people suffering from mild symptoms of dementia.

Here’s Your Brain on B12 Deficiency- Memory Loss and Aging

The clock is ticking

Scientists are still not positive exactly what causes Alzheimer’s disease, but they do know that unless they find an effective cure, the current number of Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia- 5.4 million- will double by 2050.

More info on Alzheimer’s disease is available on the new government website, alzheimers.gov.

Tips to boost brain power

Aside from drugs, many other effective treatments are available that may delay signs of dementia while improving your memory and increasing mental clarity.

Vitamin B12. Numerous studies on elderly individuals diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease indicate that vitamin B12 deficiency increases your chances of losing brain volume in your old age.  Participants who had healthy levels of vitamin B12 scored better on mental acuity tests than their peers who had low vitamin B12 blood levels.  Similarly, MRI scans of early dementia patients who took vitamin B12 supplements indicated fuller, healthier brain mass than those who did not take vitamin B12.

Can B12 Beat Alzheimer’s? Neurology Says it can…

Exercise your brain. Every time you use your brain, you activate your brain power, strengthening your brain muscles. Studies show that people who engage in strategy games like chess improve their memory skills with time.  Other great games to try are Sudoku, Scrabble, and the Japanese game, Go.
Exercise your body. Engaging in light aerobics increases blood flow to the brain, improves your mood, reduces stress, and supplies more oxygen.  It also reduces your chances of getting Alzheimer’s in your middle age, and prevents heart disease.
Eat brain foods. Include plenty of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet- eat at least 2 fish meals per week, or take supplements.  As a bonus, seafood fares like halibut, shellfish, and tuna are also high in vitamin B12!

Please tell us…

What vitamins and minerals do you take for optimum brain health?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Read more about Alzheimer’s and B12

Can Vitamin B12 Deficiency cause Dementia?

Aging begins at 45- Tips on how to Prevent Early Memory Loss

References:

Scientists hunt ways to stall Alzheimer’s earlier

U.S. launches ambitious Alzheimer’s plan with research push

Images:

MONTY RAKUSEN, CULTURA /SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

CRISTINA PEDRAZZINI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

COLIN HAWKINS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Does it seem like chronic fatigue follows you around like a sick puppy? It’s not your imagination. You could have chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), or one of several other maladies whose symptoms include constant tiredness, brain drain, and general achiness.

What is chronic fatigue?

Try this: find a stairwell, run up and down twenty times without breaking for a breather, and now stop.

Feel tired, wiped out, and lightheaded? Good! That means you’re healthy. It’s natural to feel fatigued after a strenuous workout.

People with chronic fatigue always feel exhausted, from morning to nightfall.  Forget running up the stairs- just running an errand to the supermarket can leave you out for the count before noon.

Only a doctor can diagnose your health problems; here are some conditions to look out for that cause fatigue.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)

More than just tiredness, chronic fatigue syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that causes debilitating physical pain and cognitive disorders.  Fatigue is constant, regardless of having slept well the night before or not overexerting oneself in physical activities.

Many people diagnosed with CFS also suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency, fibromyalgia, or celiac disease.

Vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency is an often-overlooked cause of fatigue for many people.  Unfortunately, many doctors don’t screen routinely for low vitamin B12 levels, so remember to ask for a blood test, specifically for vitamin B12 deficiency.

Untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency can cause severe, irreversible neurological damage, dementia, and increased risk for heart attack and stroke.

9 Conditions that Mimic Fibromyalgia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency

If you think B12 deficiency is not common, then you’re mistaken. It’s one of the leading nutritional deficiencies in the US.  There are several reasons for this:

• There has been a recent spike in gastric bypass surgeries, as they become more affordable and socially acceptable.  Any type of surgery that invades your digestive system ultimately leads to poor vitamin B12 absorption, but most surgeons fail to warn patients beforehand.  By interfering with your ability to produce intrinsic factor, an enzyme crucial for digesting vitamin B12 from food, a large number of gastric bypass surgeries result in severe depletion of vitamin B12 levels in the blood.
• Vitamin B12 occurs naturally in animal-based foods like beef, poultry, fish, and eggs. With the increasing popularity of vegan dieting, we have also seen a rise in vitamin B12 deficiencies.
• Certain drugs inhibit your ability to digest vitamin B12; these include the diabetes medication metformin and GERD treatments, protein pump inhibitors (PPIs), which prevent stomach acid production.

Inactivity

In the movie WALL-E, Disney animators envisioned an armchair society for our future, in which all daytime activities- work, play, even dressing- could be controlled with the touch of a button, eliminating the need to leave your house…or your seat.

In fact, idleness is a major source of chronic illness for an increasing number of people.  Avoidance of exercise is more likely to cause fatigue than the actual exercise itself. The deciding factor is how much you exercise, and which activities you choose, not whether you do it at all.

For tips on exercising with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, read 10 Fibromyalgia-Friendly Exercises that Boost Energy- You can do it!

Not getting enough sleep

Fess up- when was the last time you slept eight hours in a row? The fact is- most of us don’t get the bare minimum of quality nighttime sleep that we need to prevent fatigue, stress, and chronic illness.

Current research points to electronic overstimulation as a possible reason for fatigue and insomnia.  We’re always “on.” Handheld devices, cell phones, Bluetooth technology, iPod music players, e-books, laptops, tablets, and a never-ending drone of cable televised media keep us on edge, engaged,  from morning ‘til night.

Tired of being Tired all the Time…It’s Tiring!

To fall asleep quicker and get the most rest, follow these tips:

• Avoid afternoon naps, even short ones.
• Cut down on caffeinated beverages.
• Take vitamin B12 for more daytime energy
• Exercise every day
• Put a curfew on all electronic devices, including your television.

Depression

Clinical depression is a possible source of fatigue, as well.  If sadness and a sense of hopelessness accompany constant fatigue, then see a doctor immediately.  Many antidepressants are available that are safe and produce no side effects.

Also, ask for vitamin B12 deficiency screening, as depression and anxiety are common symptoms of low vitamin B12 levels.

Please tell us…

Do you experience overwhelming fatigue every day, despite sleeping well?

Does you fatigue occur after exercising, or does it happen all the time, even when you don’t do physical activities?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Read more about chronic fatigue

Chronically Pained? Here’s your Essential Chronic Pain Checklist…

10 Celebrities with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Images:

imagerymajestic, Michal Marcol, Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos, Microsoft.com

What happens if you don’t get enough vitamin B12, folate, or niacin? You could end up with severe vitamin B deficiency, causing symptoms ranging from uncomfortable to potentially dangerous.

B careful out there

B-complex refers to eight essential nutrients that work together to provide energy, build red blood cells, and protect the nervous system. Most B vitamins such as vitamin B12 are only obtainable from protein foods such as beef, chicken, fish, eggs, or milk, but some also occur in leafy greens and beans.

If you don’t get enough of any vitamin into your system, then you will eventually develop a vitamin deficiency, which in turn causes illnesses like vitamin B12 pernicious anemia or rickets.

Got your B vitamins right here

B-complex vitamins include:

• Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
• Vitamin B3 (niacin)
• Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
• Vitamin B7 (biotin)
• Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
• Folic acid

Back in my day, we didn’t have corndogs

Corn contains plenty of niacin, but it’s not easy to obtain- you have to know how to process corn kernels in such a way as to release this essential B vitamin and make it digestible.  The Indians knew how to obtain niacin from corn, but the earliest American settlers didn’t, choosing instead to mill dried corn and consume it as flour. As a result, many developed niacin deficiency- pellagra.

The basic symptoms of vitamin B3 deficiency are:

• Dermatitis- skin that burn easily, and gets dark, thick and sweaty (hence the term “redneck.”)
• Diarrhea
• Dementia- paranoia and “brain fog”
• Untreated, niacin deficiency can be fatal

Fast-forward a few centuries

Today, we still prefer to eat corn in its meal form.  American favorites like cornbread, tortilla chips, and corndogs all begin with cornmeal. However, we manage to avoid most vitamin deficiencies by eating a wide variety of food groups and taking vitamin supplements.

Still, certain vitamin deficiencies can sneak up on you.

Vitamin B12 deficiency, for example, can occur even if you eat a steady diet of beef burgers, chicken wings, and stuffed trout.

People (possibly) unknowingly at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency include:

• Anybody missing the digestive enzyme intrinsic factor
• Anybody taking metformin for diabetes, or PPIs for GERD
• Anybody who has had a gastric bypass
• Anybody who suffers from chronic digestive problems
• Anybody who suffers from autoimmune disorders like fibromyalgia or celiac disease
• Anybody who indulges in excessive alcoholic beverages
• Anybody over the age of 65

To find out if you have B12 deficiency, or any vitamin deficiency, ask your doctor for a blood test.

Supplementation for vitamin B12 deficiency includes routine vitamin B12 shots, vitamin B12 sublingual pills, or vitamin B12 patches.

Please tell us…

Have you experienced any symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, such as tiredness, numbness, painful tingling, or brain fog? If so, have you tested for B12 deficiency?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Read more about B12 deficiency

Is Vitamin B12 Deficiency an Autoimmune Disorder? Yup.

Top Ten Signs of a Vitamin B12 Deficiency

9 Vitamin Deficiencies and the People who are affected by them

References:

Deficiency Diseases of the Nervous System

A brief history of nutritional deficiencies and chronic disease

Pellagra- Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia

Images:

drewgstephens, mynameisharsha, Base Camp Baker

Managing chronic pain can feel like an uphill battle- if you suffer from chronic headaches, fibromyalgia, arthritis, or all of the above, then you’re probably doing all you can to prevent flare-ups, fight constant fatigue, and relieve achy joints, stomach cramps, and sore muscles.  Just so that you don’t forget, check out this handy list of important coping mechanisms for chronic pain management- how many of these do you use in your day?

#1: Get high on exercise!

While it is possible to overdo it with physical exertion, especially with fibromyalgia, there’s one thing you can’t get too much of, and that’s endorphins- nature’s own painkillers.  You don’t have to lift 2-ton barbells or run a mad dash to the finish line to benefit, either.  Just 20-30 minutes of walking, swimming, or low-impact aerobics is enough to get some of those brain-made feel-good chemicals.

10 Fibromyalgia-Friendly Exercises that Boost Energy- You can do it!

#2: Breathe in, breathe out!

What do yoga, tai chi, progressive relaxation, anger management, and biofeedback all have in common? They all focus on your breathing!  Your lungs are more than just necessary organs to keep you alive; with practice, you can learn how to use cleansing, controlled breaths (also called pranayama) to relax your whole body, relieve pain, and boost energy.

Why More Fibromyalgia Patients are Taking Tai Chi

#3: Quit smoking and alcohol!

The last thing you need if you suffer from chronic pain is more health problems. This might seem like a no-brainer, but weaning yourself off addictive chemicals isn’t easy, and requires a lot of motivation. So here goes: alcohol and cigarettes lead to increased pain symptoms, fatigue, and numerous diseases, including lung disease, heart disease, and cancer of just about every part of your body.

#4: Eat your pain away!

Eating healthy isn’t just about maintaining your weight or staving off hunger- by choosing foods that your body needs, you are also helping to prevent chronic pain symptoms like stomachaches, headaches, and diabetic pain, in addition to preventing heart disease, obesity, and gastrointestinal problems.  Eat low-fat, whole ingredients like grains, fresh vegetables, and lean meats, versus processed snacks or fast food that contain zero nutrients.

#5: Log your pain!

Every day, keep track of your pain symptoms in a “pain journal” that you can share with your doctor- it may help you find important clues to possible pain triggers. Take note of things you ate, activities, pain medications, and your pain scale.

15 Chronic Pain Myths- Debunked!

#6: Keep your mind occupied!

One of the worst things you can do if you suffer from chronic pain is…suffer constantly.  Studies prove that people who dwell on their pain symptoms and make it the focus of their life are least likely to find relief. Find some activity that you enjoy- one that fits in with your daily schedule and doesn’t wear you out- and do it! It can be a crossword puzzle, a hobby, or chatting with a friend…any activity that distracts you from your chronic pain will help improve your quality of life and general sense of wellbeing.

10 Celebrities with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

#7: Educate yourself about your pain meds!

A staggering number of prescription pain medications can be harmful or fatal.  Unfortunately, many doctors are negligent in informing their patients beforehand about the possible side effects of using opioid painkillers or even NSAIDs for long-term pain management.  Be up front- ask your doctor about all your current prescriptions, and find out about any alternative medications that produce the same pain relief without causing side effects.

15 Chronic Pain Causes and 15 Treatments (Vitamin B12 is one)

#8: Avoid vitamin deficiency!

Surprisingly, vitamin deficiency correlates strongly with many of today’s chronic pain illnesses.

• Vitamin B12 deficiency has been linked with numerous pain symptoms and disorders, including fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), diabetic neuropathy, pernicious anemia neuropathy, migraine, and celiac disease.  For proper diagnosis, ask your doctor for a blood screening for vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Other B vitamins besides vitamin B12- such as vitamin B2, vitamin B6, and folic acid are helpful for preventing many chronic pain symptoms.
• Magnesium deficiency is believed to be one possible cause of chronic migraines.
• Coenzyme Q10, a chemical produced by your body, is also prescribed for chronic pain prevention.

Please tell us…

Do you have any chronic pain management tips to add?

Do you use vitamin B12 supplements daily?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Read more about chronic pain

8 Ailments Linked with Gastritis, including B12 Deficiency

Chronic Pain and Acute Pain- What’s the Difference, anyways?

B Vitamins prevent Cardiovascular Disease- B6, B12 and Folate

Images:

Stuart Miles, federico stevanin, africa, scottchan

“I feel better than I did 20 years ago,” wrote Madonna to her personal chef.  What’s the secret to her Fountain of Youth? Vitamin B12 and healthy bacteria…

B12: Celebs Say it’s the New C

B12 helps her perform

Madonna’s known to take a couple of jabs every now and then- jabs of vitamin B12 shots, that is.  She attributes her youthful complexion to large doses of vitamin B12, claiming that they also boost energy, prevent illness, and help her think more clearly.

Perhaps that explains her amazing stamina and flexibility during her half-time performance recently. Vitamin B12 improves your metabolism, sports endurance, and muscular strength, and provides a healthful sense of wellbeing, as evidenced by several scientific studies.

Healthy bacteria and vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 has a symbiotic relationship with your intestinal flora.  And wouldn’t you know, Madonna is on to that, as well.  Her chef, Mayumi Nishimura, has created a well-rounded nourishing diet of foods that are good for the digestion, including fermented soy, whole grain, and quinoa.

By eating good-for-the-gut foods that supply healthy microbes, Madonna is naturally maintaining her digestive system and preventing illnesses like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), stomach cancer, and pernicious anemia from vitamin B12 deficiency.

Gut problems and B12 deficiency

There are many ways of getting vitamin B12 deficiency, and one of them includes digestive system disorder.  Any time there is damage to the stomach lining or small intestines, you run the risk of depleting your sources of vitamin B12.

That’s because a certain digestive enzyme, intrinsic factor, is produced in the stomach, and your body requires intrinsic factor in order to absorb vitamin B12 from foods like meat, poultry, fish, and eggs.  But certain illnesses that affect the digestive system- Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, GERD- result in vitamin B12 malabsorption.

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency

The initial signs of vitamin B12 deficiency often emulate other underlying ailments which you might have, which explains why doctors sometimes neglect to check vitamin B12 levels in the blood.

Telltale symptoms of early vitamin B12 deficiency include:

• Tiredness
• Painful prickly feelings in your fingers, arms, toes, and feet
• Sore red, swollen tongue
• Recent short-term memory loss
• Depression
• Inability to concentrate
• Irritability
• Diarrhea

Suffering from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue? B12 to the Rescue!

Over time, as your body expends more vitamin B12 without supplementation, neurological damage can occur, in addition to increased risk for mental illness, heart attack, and stroke.

Symptoms of prolonged vitamin B12 deficiency include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Muscular soreness
• Heart palpitations
• Feeling out of breath
• Frequent numbness in legs and arms
• Muscle spasms
• “Electric shock” sensations
• Burning mouth syndrome
• Difficulty walking
• Weakened motor control
• Dizziness and vertigo
• Severe depression
• Aggressiveness
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations
• Blurred or double vision
• Eye shakiness
• Tinnitus ear ringing

Wanna copy Madonna? Get your B12

So, by getting her mega doses of vitamin B12 and eating gut-friendly foods containing healthy bacteria, Madonna is effectively maintaining healthy B12 levels, and reaping the benefits of increased energy, mental clarity, an active metabolism, and maximum neurological health.

Vitamin B12 shots are available by prescription only, but an excellent over-the-counter option (minus the pain) is a weekly vitamin B12 patch, which is also inexpensive, practical, and highly digestible.

Please tell us…

What other celebrities can you name who take vitamin B12 shots?

Do you get scheduled doses of vitamin B12? If so, do you often feel as if you’re still fatigued? Many patients of vitamin B12 deficiency simply need OTC vitamin B12, in addition to what their doctor’s prescribing.

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Read more about vitamin B12 for energy

Will Vitamin B12 Boost Energy if I don’t have B12 Deficiency? YES!

The Vitamin B12 Patch for Energy

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome- What is it, exactly?

References:

Madonna Longevity Secret Aids Bacteria Boom

Algae acquire vitamin B12 through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria

Images:

Wikimedia, stephen_d_luke

Which nutrients are best for your brain? Vitamin B12 is one, as it protects your nervous system and prevents signs of dementia like memory loss and paranoia.  Now, researchers also advise eating lots of B12-rich foods for better brain health.

B12 for your nerves

Vitamin B12 is one of many B vitamins that your body needs for optimum brain health.  Vitamin B12 maintains the coating of myelin that protects each individual nerve cell from damage.  A deficiency in vitamin B12 could eventually result in erosion of your myelin sheath, leaving your nerve cells exposed and vulnerable.

Can Vitamin B12 Repair Nerve Cells?

Without enough B12 to sustain myelin, you would suffer numerous debilitating and possibly irreversible neurological problems, including:

• Painful numbness and tingling in hands and feet
• Movement disorders like difficulty walking, and poor motor skills
• Muscular pain
• Seizures
• Twitches
• Vision problems
• Altered sense of taste
• Burning mouth syndrome

B12 and memory

Vitamin B12 also maintains healthy cognitive functioning, as evidenced by several clinical studies on brain health.

• Senior citizens with healthy levels of vitamin B12 score better on tests of mental acuity, memory, and reasoning than their peers with vitamin B12 deficiency.
• MRI brain scans of elderly test participants reveal healthy, optimal brain mass among people with normal vitamin B12 levels, as opposed to people of the same age with vitamin B12 deficiency, whose brain scans indicated brain shrinkage, signifying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease dementia.
• Parents of children with autism have noted improved cognitive functioning and fewer symptoms of autism with supplementation of vitamin B12.

Autism, B12 and Your Child

Vitamin B12 deficiency is detrimental to brain health, resulting in symptoms like:

• Chronic fatigue
• Loss of short-term memory
• Poor concentration skills
• Decreased math skills
• Increased risk for early dementia
• Brain fog
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Aggressiveness
• Hallucinations

Getting enough B12

There’s no upper limit for vitamin B12, so there’s no harm in getting as much B12 in your system as possible.

Foods containing vitamin B12 include:

• Lean beef
• Chicken
• Turkey
• Organ meats
• Finned fish
• Shellfish
• Cheese
• Yogurt
• Eggs

Obviously, if you follow a strict vegan diet, then you should supplement with vitamin B12.  Even if you aren’t vegan or vegetarian, you can benefit greatly from taking mega-doses of B12.

• If several scientific studies, people without vitamin B12 deficiency experienced more energy, better sports performance, and reported increased feelings of wellbeing with large routine doses of vitamin B12.
• A large number of people “accidentally” become vitamin B12 deficient because they are unable to digest vitamin B12 from the foods they eat.  These include people with autoimmune disorders, digestive disorders, and diabetics using metformin.  Also, anybody who has had a gastric bypass or other intestinal surgery can take vitamin B12 in the form of a B12 shot or patch in order to compensate for low levels of vitamin B12.

Read more about B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 Deficiency-13 Illnesses that Block B12 Absorption

The Spoon Theory and Pernicious Anemia: Are you a Spoonie?

Fight Chronic Fatigue with Vitamin B-12, plus 10 Energy Tips!

Please tell us…

Which type of vitamin B12 supplement do you currently take to avoid B12 deficiency?

Are you satisfied with the results, or do you feel that you still don’t get enough energy?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Images:

phanlop88, imagerymajestic, Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot, MR LIGHTMAN

According to latest research, vitamin B12-filled foods like fish are influential in delaying Alzheimer’s disease and preventing brain shrinkage.

Why Vitamin B12?

You always knew that fish was “brain food,” but probably didn’t know why.  The answer could be in vitamin B12, a nutrient that occurs naturally in foods like beef, salmon, clams, and cheese.

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) protects your nerve cells, supports DNA synthesis, and lowers homocysteine levels.  That’s why people who don’t get enough vitamin B12 in their diet, or are simply unable to digest vitamin B12 from foods, begin the suffer debilitating symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, leading to nerve damage, loss of energy, and increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency

• Constant fatigue
• Decreased short-term memory
• Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Hallucinations
• Paranoia
• Painful tingling and numbness in the hands and feet
• Difficulty walking
• Frequent clumsiness
• Sore, burning tongue
• Altered taste perception
• Tinnitus (ear ringing)
• Restless leg syndrome

B12 and Alzheimer’s disease

A 2011 study published in Neurology on senior citizens’ diet and Alzheimer’s disease risks  found a direct correlation between vitamin consumption, including vitamin B12, and greater cognitive skills, including memory, problem-solving, and reasoning.

They found that senior citizens who ate foods rich in vitamin B12, C, D, and E scored better in cognitive tests than their peers who didn’t sustain sufficient levels of vitamin B12, thereby reducing their chances of suffering early Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.

Additionally, MRI scans confirmed that vitamin B12 directly affects brain health, as brain scans of senior citizens who had normal or elevated vitamin B12 levels revealed the most brain mass, while elderly individuals who had poor vitamin B12 levels demonstrated the type of brain shrinkage associated with onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Read more here: Here’s Your Brain on B12 Deficiency- Memory Loss and Aging

Where can I get vitamin B12?

Most people get plenty of vitamin B12 from eating a diet that includes lean beef and chicken, fresh seafood, cheese, yogurt, and eggs.  Unless you follow a strict vegan diet, you probably consume enough vitamin B12 to avoid becoming deficient.

But not necessarily.

A staggering number of people don’t get enough vitamin B12, resulting in one of the most widespread nutritional deficiencies since rickets and scurvy.  And the cause has nothing to do with diet.

In fact, so many illnesses and lifestyle choices may interfere with vitamin B12 absorption, that the only way to be certain you’re in the clear is to take a blood screening for vitamin B12 levels.

The following factors all correlate with vitamin B12 deficiency:

• Family history of vitamin B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia
• History of autoimmune disorders such as fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), and Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Presence of intrinsic factor (IF) antibody
• Previous gastrointestinal surgery, including gastric bypass
• Chronic vomiting
• Damage to the stomach lining
• Usage of metformin for diabetes
• Usage of protein pump inhibitors (PPIs) for GERD
• Old age

If your vitamin B12 levels are low despite eating meat, fish, and chicken, then you most likely can’t digest vitamin B12 in the stomach.  Your only alternative to avoid vitamin B12 deficiency is to deposit vitamin B12 directly into the blood stream.

Popular methods for non-dietary vitamin B12 supplementation are vitamin B12 shots, vitamin B12 patches, and (less effective) sublingual vitamin B12 tablets.

Read more about B12 and the brain

Can Vitamin B12 Deficiency cause Dementia?

Aging begins at 45- Tips on how to Prevent Early Memory Loss

Please tell us…

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

References

Nutrient biomarker patterns, cognitive function, and MRI measures of brain aging

Good Nutrition Keeps Brain in Shape

Images:

smokedsalmon, Ambro, vichie81

If chronic back pain is keeping you down, you might need more vitamin B12.  Even for people who don’t have vitamin B12 deficiency, supplemental doses of vitamin B12 are effective for providing pain relief and reducing the need for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble B vitamin that occurs in protein-based foods like beef, chicken, fish, eggs, and milk. Your body requires adequate amounts of vitamin B12 for red blood cell distribution, neurological health, cognitive functioning, DNA synthesis, energy, cardiovascular health, and numerous other vital bodily functions.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency-13 Illnesses that Block B12 Absorption

Many risk factors are associated with vitamin B12 deficiency, including autoimmune disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, vegan diet, certain drug interactions, old age, and gastrointestinal surgery.

Placebo-controlled study on chronic back pain

In an Italian study, 60 patients suffering from chronic back pain received one of two treatments: vitamin B12 shots, or a placebo.

Here are the details of that study:

• Participants ranged between 18 and 65 years of age.
• All had been suffering from back pain for at least 6 months.
• None required surgical procedures to correct chronic back pain.
• A visual analogic scale (VAS) and a Disability Questionnaire (DQ) were used to measure results.
• Scientists also observed consumption of paracetamol (acetaminophen) by both the vitamin B12 group and the placebo group during the study.
• After 15 days, patients who received vitamin B12 supplements experienced significant back pain relief, their VAS scores indicating an 80% reduction in chronic back pain symptoms.
• Comparatively, the placebo group only experienced a 50% reduction in pain.
• However, the placebo group consumed nearly 3 times more paracetamol during the 15-day trial, while the vitamin B12 group were able to manage their pain on significantly fewer tablets of pain relievers.

“…therapeutical benefits of B-vitamins given in high dose, and in particular vitamin B12, in painful disorders of spinal nerve roots in the absence of typical signs of a nutritional deficiency have already been demonstrated.”

-G. Letizia Mauro, U. Martorana, P. Cataldo, G. Brancato, G. Letizia

How does B12 help your back?

Vitamin B12 is instrumental in supporting the nervous system.  By maintaining the myelin sheath protecting your nerve cells, vitamin B12 aids in preventing demyelinating disorders like multiple sclerosis and peripheral neuropathy stemming from pernicious anemia.

Can Vitamin B12 Repair Nerve Cells?

With reference to chronic back pain, scientists from this study conclude that vitamin B12 also has anti-inflammatory properties that aid in correcting degenerative disorders of the lumbar spine and reducing the need for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Where do I get more vitamin B12?

The participants in this study received injections of vitamin B12.  Many hospitals administer vitamin B12 for patients with chronic back pain. Because it requires a prescription, you will need to see a doctor in order to acquire vitamin B12 shots.

Other forms of vitamin B12 are available to purchase over-the-counter, including the vitamin B12 patch, which provides a safe, gentle, and inexpensive alternative to vitamin B12 shots.

Read more about vitamin B12

15 Chronic Pain Causes and 15 Treatments (Vitamin B12 is one)

How Vitamin B12 Deficiency affects your Nervous System, Part 1: Physical Pain

The Vitamin B12 Patch for Energy

Please tell us…

Have you or anybody you know received vitamin B12 for treating back pain?  If you currently receive vitamin B12 shots, how likely are you to try supplementing with a vitamin B12 patch?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

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References:

Vitamin B12 in low back pain: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study- PubMed, NCBI

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graur razvan ionut, dream designs

Living with fibromyalgia is a delicate task of balancing energy- spending it wisely, and increasing it in any way possible.  In addition to taking extra vitamins like vitamin B12 for boosting energy, you should also include fibromyalgia-approved exercises in your chronic pain relief regimen.  Here are some energy-boosting workouts that won’t wear you out…

Fibromyalgia exercises- are you kidding me?

The last thing you probably want to do during a fibromyalgia flare-up is exercise, and you’re right; During the “bad days,” you should take it easy, pace yourself, and keep physical activity to a minimum.

However, the term “use it or lose it” applies here; complete sedentariness not only results in muscle atrophy, it will also increase your pain symptoms!

15 Chronic Pain Causes and 15 Treatments (Vitamin B12 is one)

Here’s what you’ll get back

Even 20 minutes of low-impact aerobics or gentle strength training will benefit the fibromyalgia sufferer in the following ways:

• Improved range of motion
• Increased feelings of wellbeing
• Positive outlook on life
• Increased independence
• More restful sleep
• Less stress
• Increased endorphins
• Better weight management
• Improved aerobic endurance
• More energy
• Heart health
• Healthier bones
• Stronger muscles
• Pain relief
• Decreased anxiety and depression
• Increased growth hormones

The top 10 fibromyalgia exercises

Remember; always consult your doctor before starting any new fitness regimen, especially if you suffer from heart disease.  While these exercises are safe for fibromyalgia, you should still seek medical advice from your current doctor.

#1 Take a dive!

Water sports are one of the gentlest, most therapeutic activities for people with chronic pain such as fibromyalgia.  Aqua aerobics and other pool exercises provide natural resistance while allowing full range of movement.  Check your local gym for water-based classes like underwater jogging, water polo, or Watsu.

#2 Walk it off!

Waling is an inexpensive and practical sport that you can do almost anywhere! Still, proceed with caution: always wear good walking shoes with proper insoles, avoid walking on concrete, and use controlled steps to avoid shock injuries.

#3 Move like Fonda!

Jane Fonda made “aerobics” a household name in the 80s with her famed workout videos.  Today, cardio CDs are still popular, and available in a wide range of fitness levels.  For fibromyalgia, choose low-impact aerobics that are more controlled and less stressful on the muscles than high-impact routines.

Chronic Pain and Acute Pain- What’s the Difference, anyways?

#4 Go for a spin!

Stationary exercise machines like the exercise bike, elliptical stepper, or treadmill are practical for people who just want to get their workout done quickly and privately.  Modern fitness machines allow you to track your heart rate, distance, and calories burned.

#5 Firm up!

Toning your muscles actually alleviates pain, provided you don’t overdo it. Ignore the phrase, “No pain, go gain.”  It’s not true, even for people who don’t have fibromyalgia. In addition to boosting energy, strength-training will also improve your resting heart rate, allowing you to burn more calories even while resting!

#6 Now stretch!

Keeping your muscles flexible is instrumental in managing fibromyalgia pain.  Before any exercise, always do some light arm, leg, neck, and shoulder stretches, for increased flexibility, less muscular stiffness, and better range of motion.

#7 Find your chi

A popular form of Chi-Gong (Qigong), Tai Chi uses controlled movements, breathing, and mental focus for better health, more energy, and less pain symptoms.

#8 Yoga

Many fibromyalgia patients favor yoga, as it incorporates relaxation, toning, breathing, and light aerobics all into one class.  Yoga is excellent for relieving stress, reducing pain, and boosting energy.

Brain Fog: 20 Causes and Symptoms

#9 Pilates

Pilates, once a well-guarded practice of the elite ballet class, is now part of mainstream culture.  Pilate’s classes that focus on correct breathing while strengthening the torso are available in most gyms.

#10 Get physical!

Physical therapy, that is.  If you’re not comfortable with following a fitness plan on your own, then seek a licensed physical therapist trained to work with fibromyalgia patients.  More than just a fitness coach, a physical therapist will assist you in improving flexibility, preventing muscle loss, and boosting energy through various exercises without causing any damage to your muscles or joints.

Read more about fibromyalgia and vitamin B12

9 Conditions that Mimic Fibromyalgia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency

How Vitamin B12 Deficiency affects your Nervous System, Part 1: Physical Pain

The Vitamin B12 Patch for Energy

Please tell us…

Will you try any of the exercises suggested?  Do you know of any other great workouts for fibromyalgia patients?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Sources:

The Benefits of Exercise for Fibromyalgia

Images:

Ambro, Michal Marcol, Phiseksit

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of many causes of vitamin B12 deficiency.  In addition to taking extra vitamin B12- especially crucial if you’re using protein pump inhibitors (PPIs) to battle acid reflux, it’s also important to know which foods are best for treating GERD.

GERD symptoms

The symptoms of GERD- chronic heartburn, stomach upset, vomiting- are more than just a nuisance; they can be severely detrimental to your health.

Long-term acid reflux may cause ulcers in the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, lungs, and throat.

Untreated, they can lead to scarring, narrowing of the esophagus, and cancer.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Upper Endoscopy Testing- What to Expect

GERD, a risk factor for vitamin B12 deficiency

GERD patients are a high risk factor for vitamin B12 deficiency for two reasons:

• Protein pump inhibitors (PPIs), a common medication for GERD, interfere with your ability to digest vitamin B12 naturally from food.  Long-term inhibition of stomach acids may result in severe depletion of vitamin B12 levels.  For that reason, GERD patients must take non-dietary vitamin B12 supplements, such as a routine vitamin B12 shot.
• Additionally, damage to the digestive system often interferes with intrinsic factor, a digestive enzyme that is crucial for vitamin B12 absorption.

Over time, vitamin B12 deficiency impedes your neurological health, metabolism, DNA synthesis, cognitive functioning, and red blood cell distribution.

B12 Deficiency: Don’t Ignore the Symptoms

Eating with GERD

In addition to eating the right foods, you will also need to develop good eating habits like chewing slowly, eating small meals, avoiding late-night snacks, and stopping when you’re satisfied, not stuffed.

Always consult your doctor before adopting any new food regimen for GERD.

Here are some foods that typically relieve GERD symptoms:

1. Oatmeal
2. Ginger
3. Aloe Vera
4. Fennel and celery
5. Root vegetables
6. Salad greens
7. Parsley
8. Bananas
9. Melon
10. Skinless chicken or turkey
11. Seafood
12. Whole grains

Please tell us…

If you’ve been diagnosed with GERD, have you also tested for vitamin B12 deficiency?  Please tell us how you relieve heartburn and acid reflux.

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Read more about GERD and B12 deficiency

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) – B12 Deficiency and 5 other Health Risks

Absorbing Vitamin B12, a Metabolic Gastrointestinal Journey

Sources:

Acid Reflux: 13 Foods To Soothe The Burn

Heartburn-GERD Symptoms & Types

Images:

Stoonn, Grant Cochrane, kongsky, Master isolated images, Nick Saltmarsh