You should be consuming foods rich in vitamin B12 regularly. Why? "It plays a major role in nerve and brain health and energy metabolism," and is also necessary for "nerve development, DNA synthesis, and red blood cell formation," explains Samantha Turner, a registered dietitian, to BestLife.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is actually quite common, "especially among older adults, vegetarians, and vegans." And those who have it often experience some very uncomfortable symptoms. Here are five examples, according to experts.

Read Also: Cientistas descobrem comida que previne o envelhecimento do cérebro (Portuguese version)

Signs you're not getting enough vitamin B12:

• Fatigue. "Low B12 levels can decrease red blood cell production, making it harder for oxygen to be delivered to your body's cells, which can cause fatigue," explains Leann Poston, MD;
• Fertility problems. "Vitamin B12 deficiency has been linked to infertility" because it can reportedly "improve the number of healthy eggs and the quality of embryos," says Qianzhi Jiang, RD;
• Numbness, tingling, and neurological issues. It "can affect how nerves send messages throughout your body," and when "the rate of nerve impulses slows down, your body interprets that as numbness and tingling," adds Poston. It's also possible for a deficiency in this vitamin to cause "irritability, abnormal gait, impaired sense of smell, and absent neurological reflexes, such as the gag reflex," says Jiang;
• Mouth pain. For instance, in some cases, vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to "glossitis," explains Poston. This causes the tongue to have "a smooth appearance and can be painful";
• Pale skin color. Not having enough of this vitamin can cause red blood cells to get "trapped in the spleen, decreasing the number of red blood cells in circulation. This condition, called anemia, can cause a pale complexion."

Read Also: Devia comer mais alimentos ricos em folato. Eis os incómodos sinais (Portuguese version)

patrocinado por Betclic

Os jogos (e as apostas) que prometem aquecer a semana e o fim de semana

patrocinado por Poupança No Minuto

Poupar milhares de euros por ano? É possível! Consolide os seus créditos

Descarregue a nossa App gratuita.

Oitavo ano consecutivo Escolha do Consumidor para Imprensa Online e eleito o produto do ano 2024.
* Estudo da e Netsonda, nov. e dez. 2023 produtodoano- pt.com

Descarregue a nossa App gratuita.

Oitavo ano consecutivo Escolha do Consumidor para Imprensa Online e eleito o produto do ano 2024.
* Estudo da e Netsonda, nov. e dez. 2023 produtodoano- pt.com