vitamin B12 is one of the most essential nutrients your body needs and millions of people are walking around dangerously deficient without even knowing it and trust me that's a bigger deal than you might think you see vitamin B12 does a lot of heavy lifting in your body it helps your body produce red blood cells supports brain function and even plays a role in DNA production without enough of it your body can't function properly the surprising thing is that B12 deficiency is much more common than most people realize it's especially a concern for older adults or
those with certain health conditions that's why paying attention to the signals your body sends you is so important because B12 deficiency is easy to miss in this video we will cover eight warning signs that could be your body's way of telling you it needs more vitamin B12 number one fatigue and weakness imagine struggling to get out of bed yawning constantly or feeling drained even after 8 hours of sleep if that sounds familiar it might be more than just being tired one of the earliest and most common signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency is persistent fatigue
and weakness and here's why this happens your body relies on B12 to produce red blood cells which are responsible for carrying oxygen to your organs now without enough B12 your body can't produce enough healthy red blood cells as a result less oxygen reaches your muscles and tissues making you feel tired sluggish physically weak and mentally foggy even if you've had plenty of rest what does this mean to you well if you've been feeling constantly exhausted or weak for no clear reason and no amount of sleep or Lifestyle Changes seem to help it's worth getting your
B12 levels checked don't brush it off as just being tired number two mood changes and depression your mood and mental well-being are closely connected to your vitamin B12 levels this is true and it may surprise you to learn that low B12 can quietly trigger your mood swings anxiety or even feelings of depression most people have no idea this connection exists but in reality a chronic B12 deficiency can actually cause unexpected mood changes the main reason is that vitamin B12 plays a key role in producing essential brain chemicals like serotonin often called the feel-good chemical when
your B12 levels drop your body's ability to produce serotonin slows down leaving you feeling anxious irritable or down than usual so if you've been dealing with unexplained mood swings increase irritability or feelings of anxiety or depression it may not just be all in your head B12 deficiency could be the hidden cause so don't let an unseen deficiency control your mood sometimes a simple change in what you eat or adding a B12 supplement to your routine can significantly improve your mental well-being number three pale or yellowish skin your skin can tell you a lot about your
health and one of the most overlooked yet noticeable signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency is pale or yellowish skin it's not just something you look tired from it's your body waving a red flag now here's what's happening inside your body when your body doesn't have enough vitamin B12 it struggles to produce healthy red blood cells instead your red blood cells break down too quickly releasing a yellowish pigment called B rubben into your system if that name sounds familiar it's because Billy rubben is the same pigment that causes jaundice the yellowish skin you sometimes see in
newborns or people with liver issues so what makes this different with a B12 deficiency it's not your liver causing the problem it's the early breakdown of your red blood cells that's why pale or jaundice skin is sometimes mistaken for a liver problem when in reality it could be your body calling out for more B12 number four glossitis and mouth pain glossitis may sound like a complicated medical term but it's actually pretty simple it means an inflamed swollen and red tongue it's one of the more visible signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency usually a healthy tongue
is smooth pink and covered in tiny bumps called papalii still when your body doesn't get enough B12 it disrupts red blood cell production which can trigger tongue inflammation you will notice your Tong looking unusually red and swollen or even oddly smooth or shiny but it's not just about how it looks the inflammation can also make your tongue feel tender sore or painful making it harder to eat drink or even talk comfortably and it doesn't stop there a B12 deficiency can also lead to mouth ulcers those small painful sores that show up inside your cheeks lips
or under your tongue if you've ever had one you know how uncomfortable they can be all of these symptoms are connected to one thing vitamin b12's role in maintaining healthy tissues in your mouth you see without enough B12 those tissues in your mouth can't maintain their normal structure and function and that's when the discomfort begins number five tingling and numbness in your hands or feet have you ever felt that pins and needle sensation in your hands or feet like a thousand tiny needles poking at you from every angle it's uncomfortable a little Annoying and it
can even feel a bit concerning but here's the deal that pins and needles feeling isn't random in fact it's one of the classic signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency so why does it happen well it all comes down to the role B12 plays in your nervous system you see vitamin B12 helps maintain something called the myelin sheath think of it as the protective coating around your nerves kind of like the plastic insulation on electrical wires this coating makes sure nerve signals travel smoothly and efficiently but here's the problem when your body doesn't get enough B12
that protective sheath can start to break down when that happens your nerves don't work as they should that's what triggers those odd Sensations tingling numbness or even burning feelings especially in your hands and feet and it's more than just uncomfortable if a B12 deficiency goes untreated those symptoms can get worse it's no longer just a slight tingling here and there it can start to affect your balance coordination and even how you move a vitamin B12 deficiency can damage the peripheral nerves and that damage can also impede running walking or even moving around vitamin B12 deficiency
can get so bad that your feet and limbs might get numb weak and unable to support the weight of your body even your reflexes can also be affected number six irregular heartbeat fast heart rate also known as tachicardia can occur as a result of B12 deficiency low levels of vitamin B12 can lead to megaloblastic anemia which causes dizziness fatigue loss of appetite and heart palpitations heart palpitations happen when your heart beats irregularly you might experience some unpleasant pounding and fluttering or even get a panic attack from a fast heartbeat heartbeat is directly linked to anemia
which can be caused by B12 insufficiency low levels of B12 can cause your heart muscles to get damaged in time or even lead to an enlarged heart so increase your vitamin B12 intake and be gentle with your heart number seven memory loss or cognitive decline just as low B12 can lead to depression it also plays a significant role in cognitive development and memory production memory loss disorientation and dementia are are possible symptoms of vitamin b112 deficiency this is significant because forgetfulness and memory loss are not always a sign of Aging in fact they could be
a sign of something you can actually fix a vitamin B12 deficiency B12 helps maintain cognitive function this is crucial because your brain requires vitamin B12 to support healthy nerve cells and create a protective coating around these cells which keeps the nerve signal strong and clear when B12 levels dip too low it becomes harder for your brain cells to communicate effectively and that's when your brain's ability to process information slows down leading to brain fog forgetfulness and that frustrating feeling that you just can't think straight because vitamin B12 deficiency causes memory loss and other symptoms of
dementia there is some evidence that vitamin B12 deficiency may be one potential cause of some cases of Dementia in the elderly now it's easy to write off these moments as just getting older but B12 deficiency is not limited to old older adults sure it's more common with age but it can affect anyone it's especially true if you're a vegan or vegetarian have certain medical conditions or take medications such as metformin which can lower B12 levels so don't ignore those senior moments especially if they seem a little too frequent or feel out of the ordinary it
could be a sign of something completely treatable like a B12 deficiency the signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency go beyond what we talked about in this video it's not just about fatigue or brain brain fog you might also experience shortness of breath weight loss vision problems or even issues with balance and coordination so how can you prevent a B12 deficiency well it's actually easier than you might think first things first make sure your B12 levels are checked at least once a year one great way to keep your B12 levels up is by including foods that
are rich in vitamin B12 in your diet think of lean meats fish and eggs but if you want to try something different why not explore the flavors of organ meat such as liver liver is not for everyone but it is one of the most potent natural sources of B12 you'll find and if you're following a vegan vegetarian or plant-based lifestyle it's crucial to pay attention to your B12 intake since it's mainly found in animal products however in such cases you can still get B12 from things like nutritional yeast and you can also bridge the gap
by considering B12 supplements speaking of supplements vitamin B12 comes in different forms but methyl cobal often found in sublingual tablets that dissolve under the tongue has been shown to be better absorbed by the body if you found this video helpful don't forget to like And subscribe to the channel you can also encourage others to take care of their vitamin B12 by sharing the video see you next time he
