What Are the Weight Loss Benefits of Vitamin B12?
We all know how difficult it is to lose weight. We also know how tempting it can be to try out some of those “magic pill” products or “revolutionary” diets that promise to shed unwanted pounds overnight.
While it is understandable to seek the assistance of something to make the process easier, there are some products and strategies that are healthier and safer than others. Sure, you want to lose weight. But what is the point of dropping unwanted pounds if your body is filled with toxic chemicals or deprived of essential nutrients?!
Vitamin B12 is one of those weight loss aids that is safe and effective. Check out how this natural weight loss aid can help in ways other products can’t.
What is Vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is part of the B vitamin complex. Along with the other B vitamins, B12 helps regulate the nervous and circulatory systems.
There are various supplemental methods – pills, sublingual drops, and injections to name a few. Some people have trouble absorbing vitamin B12 so injections are the only option available. Others prefer injections because that supplementation method insures the entire dose is absorbed. Other methods lose some of the vitamin potency during the absorption process.
It Does Help
Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietitian from Mayo Clinic, pronounced vitamin B12 an inefficient weight loss aid. She said, “Proponents of vitamin B12 injections say the shots give you more energy and boost your metabolism, helping you shed unwanted pounds. But unless you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, vitamin B12 injections aren’t likely to give you an energy boost.”
Unfortunately, Katherine Zeratsky fails to take a few things into consideration. First, the vast majority of the population does have a vitamin B12 deficiency – they just don’t know it! This deficiency is brought about by the body’s inability to absorb the nutrient or the lack of vitamin B12 in our diet.
Vitamin B12 is only found in animal products. Sure, it can be found in food items like fish, meat, eggs, and dairy products. But the highest concentration of the nutrient is found in liver and clams. Who eats those on a regular basis? And often times, with our hectic lives, none of us eat enough healthy proteins to replenish our vitamin B12 storehouse.
Plus, all vegetarians and vegans need a vitamin B12 supplement. And if the supplement is taken orally, there is a good chance those individuals aren’t absorbing enough.
So, in reality, quite a few people can expect a boost of energy from vitamin B12 injections.
Secondly, Ms. Zeratsky assumes the only reason dieters would use vitamin B12 is for the energy boost. In reality, the nutrient helps weight loss hopefuls in many more ways. Let’s take a look at the top three ways vitamin B12 can help weight loss.
Vitamin B12 fuels the body
The body requires adequate levels of vitamin B12 in order to convert carbohydrates into glucose. This process is responsible for fueling the body and providing necessary energy.
Vitamin B12 helps dieters sleep better
All humans have biological rhythms – called circadian rhythms – that affect things like blood pressure, temperature and sleep. These rhythms can be affected by a variety of things. One such influencing factor is vitamin B12.
In one study, patients reported they felt more refreshed and the quality of sleep vastly improved after just one week of vitamin B12 injections. Researchers found there is a direct correlation between vitamin B12 plasma levels and healthy sleep patterns.
Healthy sleep patterns are essential for dieters. There is no way you can wake up bright and early for that spin class if you toss and turn the night before. How are you expected to find the motivation to hit the gym after work if you are exhausted? Preparing healthy meals is much more challenging when you are constantly battling fatigue and lethargy.
Vitamin B12 ensures optimum mental health
Vitamin B12 is directly responsible for maintaining a healthy nervous system. The nutrient helps with everything from forming DNA to producing brain cells.
While maintaining your mental health, vitamin B12 also fights off depression and the effects of stress. And let’s face it – weight loss is stressful! It is also highly emotional. Each time we fall off the wagon, it seems harder and harder to climb back on. Vitamin B12 helps ensure we stay positive about our efforts and helps maintain a healthy, optimistic outlook.
What do you think? Could vitamin B12 help you lose weight? Have you tried it? Did you find success? Sound off in the comment section below!
Guest author Jason Clement is a freelance writer who specializes in health and nutrition. He has recently spent a lot of time researching B12 injections for eB12injections.