Best form of B12?

[rawstrength]

So, I've been feeling pretty cranky and foggy-headed lately. I attribute this to cutting out vitamin B-12 fortified nutritional yeast a few weeks ago.

Can someone recommend the most useable/absorbable form of B12 supplement that I can take? I'm not interested in iffy ones like Spirulina. I don't want to do bee pollen because it's pricey and not available fresh year round.

I really hate taking supplements, but I feel like I could use the B12. I've been cooked vegan 100% for going on 4 years, raw vegan for about six months.

[mblessed]

Hi rawstrength,

I recently had some lab tests done, and I am B-12 and iron deficient. My nutritionist who is awesome, recommended I go on ProThera sublingual b-12, 5000 mcg., 1 tablet a day. I started taking it a couple of days ago. She is particular about what brand of supplements she recommends. I may also need to take b-12 shots, we don't know yet though.

Hope this is helpful! I have the foggy-headed thing too (in addition to some other things)! :)

Blessings and best wishes,

Marcia

[lafsalot]

When I can remember, I take Quantum's Living Vitamin B Nano-Plex. I occasionally get shots too ~ Cathy

[Pitaya]

i am not sure about vitamins but as far as raw, nonvegan food sources bean sprouts are the way to go for b12. i was so pleased to read this in Fit For Life as I've always read it wasn't available in anything but animal products.

:)

[coco]

that is a pretty old book, i'm afraid there isn't really any usable b12 in bean sprouts. sorry.

[Eveleaf]

It's expensive, but I recommend E3Live. It's 100% natural and raw, and absolutely *packed* with nutrients other than B12. I think it's the most amazing food on the planet.

[garydeb44]

Hi, I was at a seminar with Brian Clement recently from the Hippocrates Institute and he said LifeGive brand B-12 Forte was the best. I've been taking it for awhile and my B-12 levels were very high. Hope that helps.

Debbie

[RawSinger]

Sea veggies

[Zaphirah]

Hi rawstrength,

I recently had some lab tests done, and I am B-12 and iron deficient. My nutritionist who is awesome, recommended I go on ProThera sublingual b-12, 5000 mcg., 1 tablet a day.

Marcia

This wasn't a typo right? 5THOUSAND mcg? My WF tablet is only 500mcg. :confused:

[coco]

there is no, i repeat NO usable b12 in sea vegetables. it's an analogue that looks like b12 but doesn't act like it in the body. these are dangerous mistaken beliefs. it take a while to become b12 deficient but it's very bad to do so. take care, have your levels checked if you are concerned or in doubt.

[Raw Yogini]

I went to a raw food retreat over the summer and one of the speakers talked about vitamin Bs. His suggestion was to take a couple of drops of liquid B vitamins under your tongue. Some people are unable to absorb vitamin B orally due to lack of intrinsic factor which is why some people get shots. Sublingually (under the tongue) is less invasive and it bypasses the need for intrinsic factor. I bought Nature's Sunshine brand and use it about once every one or two months. It cost about $15.

[rawstrength]

I went to a raw food retreat over the summer and one of the speakers talked about vitamin Bs. His suggestion was to take a couple of drops of liquid B vitamins under your tongue. Some people are unable to absorb vitamin B orally due to lack of intrinsic factor which is why some people get shots. Sublingually (under the tongue) is less invasive and it bypasses the need for intrinsic factor. I bought Nature's Sunshine brand and use it about once every one or two months. It cost about $15.

Raw Yogini - that sounds like a good idea! I will look for that.

[Coconutcutie]

I just wanted to chime in with my thoughts... I worked in the health food and supplement industry for years and we were trained that METHYLcobalamin is the most effective form of B-12 rather than the CYANOcobalamin found in most supplements. Our customers reaffirmed this with their experiences with the differing products. I used a liquid methylcobalamin spray for awhile that I really liked and now I occassionally use Jarrow methylcobalamin sublingual wafers. Lately I have incorporated nutritional yeast into my diet so I have backed off of the supplements, though...

[Zaphirah]

This wasn't a typo right? 5THOUSAND mcg? My WF tablet is only 500mcg. :confused:

still wondering about this...

how much is everyone taking?

[mblessed]

Zaphirah,

Just letting you know the 5000 mcg was not a typo. It was prescribed to me last week by my nutritionist after my lab test/blood work showed a b-12 deficiency. :)

By the way I live in Western MA too (in the Berkshires). :)

Have a wonderful day. The plant life here is so beautiful right now! :)

Blessings and peace,

Marcia

[Zaphirah]

NO WAY!!! I'm in the Gateway hill towns-Blandford. http://www.myemoticons.com/emoticon-critic/cute/images/cheer.gifYEA for WMASS!!!! http://www.myemoticons.com/emoticon-critic/cute/images/cheer.gif

[RawSinger]

there is no, i repeat NO usable b12 in sea vegetables. it's an analogue that looks like b12 but doesn't act like it in the body. these are dangerous mistaken beliefs. it take a while to become b12 deficient but it's very bad to do so. take care, have your levels checked if you are concerned or in doubt.

Okay then. Good to know. Does this mean that the B12 in Alissa's Chlorella tablets is not usable???

[lafsalot]

Okay then. Good to know. Does this mean that the B12 in Alissa's Chlorella tablets is not usable???

Alissa talks more on this in "Need to Know More About Raw!" forum ~ Cathy

[TaupeRawMan]

Thought I would update this thread with this info from Hippocrates that just came out today...

http://www.aliveraw.com/Q_A/B-12_Deficiencies_.aspx?rid=0004

[raweater]

i am not sure about vitamins but as far as raw, nonvegan food sources bean sprouts are the way to go for b12. i was so pleased to read this in Fit For Life as I've always read it wasn't available in anything but animal products.

:)

It's been found that b12 in plant foods goes straight through the body unabsorbed.

I don't know if I'm allowed to mention this, but since I take no synthetic chemicals (which B12 supplements are), I get my B12 by eating raw eggs every now and then.

Some people have also gone blind from the toxicity of the synthetic B12 supplements and shots.

[Dimond]

According to Brian Clement & many others, soil based micro organisms are a sufficient B-12 source. In fact I was able to find out that the B12 he sells main ingredient is saccharomyces cerevisiae. You can find them in probiotics (which is good to take anyhow), Healthforce products like Vitamineral Green & many other products.

[Dimond]

Also note that Saccharomyces Boulardii is a subspecies of S. Cerevisiae. Most soil-based probiotics will have the Boulardii. But I would think any soil based ones work.

[walnutty]

When I can remember, I take Quantum's Living Vitamin B Nano-Plex. I occasionally get shots too ~ Cathy

I use this brand also, which is a raw and vegan source of B-12 and other B vitamins.

Alex the Raw Guru sells this item.

[luvmyzoe]

OMG! I'm orignally from the Berkshires, and now living in California!

Where exactly are you at? I was born and raised in North Adams.

Grace