Take your b12

daisychain · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 3:59 am

A few years ago the GP I was seeing decided to treat some chronic fatigue thing I had with B12 shots. I must say...... they do perk you up quite quick. Yeah it's a pain having to get an injection every week but the relief from the tiredness after a few weeks of it makes it worth it.

Veg_Eric · **Joined:** Wed Oct 20, 2010 12:34 am **Posts:** 2204

supercarrot wrote:

nooch is your friend.

Nooch is not a (reliable) source of B12. There is only one variety of Red Star nooch that has B12 added to it, but regular nooch does not contain B12.

I think it's sensible (and can have health benefits) to take more b12 than the recommended daily amount.

After all a B12 deficiency can cause irreversible damage.

b.vicious · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:19 am

Is B12 typically included in a standard blood test or do you need to ask for it?

b.vicious · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:22 am

Veg_Eric wrote:

supercarrot wrote:

nooch is your friend.

Nooch is not a (reliable) source of B12. There is only one variety of Red Star nooch that has B12 added to it, but regular nooch does not contain B12.

I think it's sensible (and can have health benefits) to take more b12 than the recommended daily amount.

After all a B12 deficiency can cause irreversible damage.

It's true that not all nooch has B12, but Red Star isn't the only brand that does - Kal (the big blue can) also does.

ndpittman · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:17 am

Just took a vitamin!

So glad there was a cause to your feeling rundown, Vijita! Hopefully you can rectify that shiitake!

kittee · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:23 am

b.vicious wrote:

Is B12 typically included in a standard blood test or do you need to ask for it?

I've always asked for it.

ijustdiedinside · **Joined:** Sun Sep 05, 2010 8:43 pm **Posts:** 8538

Yeah, you need to ask. But they will normally test for signs of anemia, which could tell you if you potentially have a b12 deficiency.

ijustdiedinside · **Joined:** Sun Sep 05, 2010 8:43 pm **Posts:** 8538

also, jack norris just posted this about the effects of cooking on b12

http://jacknorrisrd.com/?p=3262

vijita · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:53 am

That's interesting. What do you guys eat for fortified B12 foods? I'm stocked up on vitamins, soy milk, and emergen-c. (I will probably get a shot when I revisit my doctor in a few days), but I don't really like stuff like cliff bars and breakfast cereals. I do eat a tonne of nooch, not because I'm sold on it being a reliable source of B12, but because it's delicious.

linanil · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:57 am

I think nooch is the only thing really, well and soy milk. I try to take my vitamins and I'm getting better but I've never tested low luckily.

vijita · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:02 am

Oh I guess Marmite is another iffy but harmless one. It says one adult serving gives 60% of the RDA. I wonder if the cooking thing applies to marmite. How the hell is that shiitake made anyway? Oh right, it is wonderful unicorn poop.

mollyjade · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:32 am

vijita wrote:

That's interesting. What do you guys eat for fortified B12 foods? I'm stocked up on vitamins, soy milk, and emergen-c. (I will probably get a shot when I revisit my doctor in a few days), but I don't really like stuff like cliff bars and breakfast cereals. I do eat a tonne of nooch, not because I'm sold on it being a reliable source of B12, but because it's delicious.

Some margarines are fortified with it. Smart Balance is, but Earth Balance isn't, which drives me crazy.

I keep my bottle of b12 by my computer and pop one every time a vegan writes about b12. Like a drinking game, but with better side effects.

daisychain · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:37 am

mollyjade wrote:

I keep my bottle of b12 by my computer and pop one every time a vegan writes about b12. Like a drinking game, but with better side effects.

lol! Thanks for that! You just made B12 tablets cool.

FabulouslyFierce · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:38 am

This thread reminded me to take mine, it had been a few weeks. Ooops.

Amy · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:40 am

I think soy lattes and nooch-based queso are the only things that have kept my B12 level afloat in the last couple years. They're pretty much the most delicious way to supplement, but I'm glad I finally bought something a little more reliable. (I bought the Deva sublinguals, but I think I actually like the B12 spray better. I forget the brand.)

ndpittman · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:40 am

Do you all take a separate b12 supplement or a multivitamin with b12? I got the Deva multivitamins, so I'm wondering if I'm OK (I mean, if I take them).

daisychain · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:44 am

I'm actually thinking of getting a vegan multivitamin and taking the sublingual too.

b.vicious · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:44 am

I take a multivitamin only. I don't know what my levels are, though.

I'm not very helpful.

vijita · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:46 am

I think (and this should be taken with a grain of salt until I talk to an ACTUAL doctor), that it is probably a good idea to take both. I have the Deva B12 and I take two New Chapters multis a day, well now anyway!). My thinking is that I've been vegan for 7 years and have been shoddy at best at supplementing, so now hopefully I can build my levels back up. I'm also low on calcium. :(

ndpittman · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 12:01 pm

I love the word sublingual, so maybe I'll look into that! Really I just need to be better about taking something. I've been feeling run-down, too, but I figured it was just depression. And it might be, but you know, I figure this can't hurt.

Thessaly · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 12:24 pm

I was wondering this too. At the moment I take a Deva multi most days and try to remember to take a B12 at least once a week (maybe twice a week).

Kelly · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 12:33 pm

Thanks for reminding me to reorder my b12 spray! I love this kind: http://www.amazon.com/KAL-Vitamin-B-12- ... =b12+spray

Veg_Eric · **Joined:** Wed Oct 20, 2010 12:34 am **Posts:** 2204

vijita wrote:

That's interesting. What do you guys eat for fortified B12 foods?

As far as I know we in Europe kind of only have fortified soymilk or breakfast cereal (which I don't use)

My approach to b12 is the same as for gas in my car. I might only need a gallon a day, but I won't stop 4 times for a quart of gas. I rather fuel up some more, or even just fill the tank for a week so I won't run out if I forget one of my stops.

Mr. Shankly · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 12:41 pm

vijita wrote:

j-dub wrote:

It can take 5+ years. I was fine for 11 years of vegetarianism and then toward the end of my second year vegan I was barely functional--thought I had mono again. Got my B12 levels checked and they were way low. I really wouldn't tempt it, to be honest. Once you go through your stores it can take a good amount of time supplementing to get them back up again, and really you should just always be supplementing.

This! I have been vegetarian for 16 years (vegan for seven), and only now is this affecting me.

Take your B12. Also, thanks for the sympathy. <3

I've been vegan for nearly 11 years and get tested once a year. Would it take that long to go through my supply?

mollyjade · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 3:37 pm

Amy wrote:

I think soy lattes and nooch-based queso are the only things that have kept my B12 level afloat in the last couple years. They're pretty much the most delicious way to supplement, but I'm glad I finally bought something a little more reliable. (I bought the Deva sublinguals, but I think I actually like the B12 spray better. I forget the brand.)

Be careful if you're getting your lattes at a coffee shop. Most coffee shops use special soy milk that isn't fortified.

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