Does anyone else have a vitamin B-12 deficiency?

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Permalink Reply by JB on February 25, 2008 at 12:11am

Up your dose of spirulina and that will certainly help. I used to take a sublingual B-12 by Perque (Gabriel Cousins used to sell it---I'm trying to find out where I got mine from), and I think it helped while I was transitioning to a vegan diet.

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Permalink Reply by Clement on March 30, 2008 at 3:46pm

This is what the Vegetarian Society of Great Britain has to say about B12:

http://www.vegsoc.org/info/b12.html

I suggest that all advocates of algae read this article, and then weigh up the information with the sources that they already have. What really confuses me, is that a very prolific raw food guru mentioned that it can be found in Spirulina. Is this a conflict of information or what?! Marj says that I'm like an obsessed freak that can't stop researching about B12, but I just want to know the truth...

Clément

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Permalink Reply by mish on February 25, 2008 at 2:02am

I take Perque still sometimes:
http://www.nutriessential.com/shop/product_view.asp?id=76085&St...

Or you could go get b12 shots, but I never did that and dont know about that experience. Everyone changing to a raw diet should have deficiency tests done after a year, and then every 2 or so yrs at least until you have fine-tuned a diet by doing loads of experimentation and research and applying different modalities (like live blood tests or hot/cold shower treatments, etc...). Some people do not assimilate minerals or vitamins like the next person does due to systematic disfunctions that aren't always apparent. Just cause you are eating em doesnt mean you are "getting" em. Make sure :-) Be well!

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Permalink Reply by Rae on February 25, 2008 at 4:01am

I didn't even know they had b-12 shots! If it turns out to be b-12 deficiency for sure then I will definitely consider that! Thanks for the info :)

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Permalink Reply by april on February 25, 2008 at 12:31am

I'd most def. look into taking a good b-12 supplement...
I had a lot of the same problems when I first went raw, but then started supplementing with about 6,000mg of b12 daily.
All symptoms gone, and I feel totally fine. :]

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Permalink Reply by Rae on February 25, 2008 at 3:53am

hmmmm.. I'll have to try that
-thanks :)

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Permalink Reply by Amie on February 25, 2008 at 8:02pm

Just wondering- what do you take?

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Permalink Reply by Amy Donovan on February 25, 2008 at 5:09am

Raw eggs. But they have to be fresh (really fresh), free range and organic. You can make smoothies or salad dressing with them.

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Permalink Reply by Ronan on February 25, 2008 at 9:01am

I have a B12 deficiency and actually am heading to the doctors in a few hours to get an intramuscular injection! ouch. Only kidding, it doesn't hurt.

Raw food is not the cause of my B12 deficiency but it has made an impact. Back in 2000 I was not even a vegetarian and was diagnosed with a B12. The issues I was having at the time was extreme fatigue and poor memory. Following B12 treatment I felt better with 48 hours. I think the under lying problem was due to celiacs disease (gluten intolerance) which was undiagnosed for years and so created some havok in my system.

More recently, having been veggie for 3 years and raw for a few months, it became obvious that my memory was very poor and I was finding it very difficult to study. I started feeling really stupid because information would not stick in my mind.. it was as if it had a teflon coating (urgh!).

My mind kept on wandering back to B12 and despite my only symptom been cognitive in nature (so no tingling or fatigue) I decided it was worth investigating. Blood tests at the doctors revealed a B12 deficiency (very low serum level and high MCV), although initially the doctor told me they were normal and it was not until I presented them with my own research they agreed. I have opted to take sublingual tablets (on going) as well as a few intra muscular to get me back on track. They are not raw but goal for me is to be healthy not raw.

It has only been 2 weeks on supplementation but I have already noticed a major improvement in my ability to remember and general cognitive skills. The first injection is today.

I found this article helpful. I found Gabriel Cousin's article good read too.

Lots of different sources say different things about B12 deficiencies and raw. Ultimately you need to be your own judge and decide what is right for you. If you think it is an issue you could always get a blood test or supplement.

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Permalink Reply by RONNIE on August 24, 2008 at 8:22am

Hey I wanted to ask you if when you take your sub B12 if you are using methycobalamin vs cyanocobalamin? Methycobalamin is the bioactive form of B12 in the body so it would really be your best bet when using supplements. You can also ask your Dr. to give you injections of Methyl B12 rather than the Cyano. I have been getting these injections for years and they are just amazing. The Methyl B12 works right away and you can feel the difference.
If you want anymore info hit me up! Peace 2 u

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Permalink Reply by Ronan on August 24, 2008 at 11:08am

That's a great point. The easier it is for the body to use it the better. The sublinqual I take is in the form of methycobalamin (Unique B12). I'm not sure about the injection though.. I'll check next time I am there!

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Permalink Reply by JB on February 25, 2008 at 2:18pm

I recall that my major concern when going vegetarian 3 years ago was the B-12 issue. I read up on as much as I could find, and though I found the literature that does not support B-12 in Spirulina:

http://www.beyondveg.com/billings-t/comp-anat/comp-anat-7c.shtml

(what is disturbing about these findings is that they are from the 1980's....why has no more research been done? In my mind it is because if certain powers don't want the masses to know the truth about spirulina or other algaes.)

I also have a lot of faith in Dr. Jameth Sheridan at Healthforce, whom I believe is one of the most knowledgeable people in the raw vegan world (and Gabriel Cousens, also on my short list of people I have faith in sells his products), claims that B-12 is found in Spirulina.

But most importantly, I have used my body in the lab, and Spirulina is a major part of my diet. I have not been on a sublingual B-12 supplement in a year, and my energy levels are great. I go to the gym a few days a week for strenuous exercise and am moderately active in between. I would second what everyone is saying about the symptoms you are experience as part of detox....mine was long and difficult for a number of reasons, but it is certainly worth the temporary lows to experience a new vantage point.

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