Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 helps our body make the red blood cells and use fats and amino acids.
Unfortunately, this vitamin is not found in plant foods.

The body requirement for vitamin B12 is very small (2.4 micro grams daily for an adult) and our body stores it. That is why a deficiency in this vitamin appears many years after you have stopped eating animal products.

A deficiency can cause anemia and severe irreversible nerve damage.

An adequate intake in B12 is generally not a problem for vegetarians who eat eggs and dairy products since those foods contain vitamin B12.

However for vegetarians who to not eat animal products vitamin B12 must be a concern. They must rely on supplements.

We used to think that sea vegetables, tempeh and miso were rich in this vitamin but recents studies have shown the contrary.

---