B-12 and vitamin D deficiency?

[Jeffrey]

I have a question. I'm wondering what y'all think of taking supplements. Ive been reading about B-12 and vitamin D deficiency
and I dont think I'm getting enough being on the raw diet. Whatcha all think? Do y'all take supplements?
Thanks, Jeff

[Amarynth]

Hi :)

I take a multi vitamin and an extra 400iu of Vit D as per my doctor. I was having some aches and pains, fatigue, etc..last year and tested positive for Lyme (stupid ticks. lol), but I also had a Vit D deficiency. I figure it can't hurt, even though I am eating healthier, right?

[skier2]

Hi :)

I take a multi vitamin and an extra 400iu of Vit D as per my doctor. I was having some aches and pains, fatigue, etc..last year and tested positive for Lyme (stupid ticks. lol), but I also had a Vit D deficiency. I figure it can't hurt, even though I am eating healthier, right?

Most Americans have a Vitamin D deficiency anyway, so you're not alone. Go outside! 10 minutes in the sun everyday is enough to harness your daily dose.

[DebB]

I take both B-12 and Vitamin D3. I take other supplements as well. *Ü*

[blessteve]

The best source of B-12 is bacteria. Ferment veggies
or make Kefir and you will be way ahead of the game.

[Mikey_H]

I've pondered this many times before... but then I realize how much better I feel eating all raw and consider biases that may be on both sides of the issue.
So I don't worry much about it but I just take a Vit D and B12 supplement every once in a while, since those tablets are always around anyway.
Then again, when it comes to the Vit D, it's hard for me to complain because I live in Southern California where we get like... a few days out of the year without sun? ha!

[Amarynth]

Haha...ya, actually the sun has been pretty scarce around here the past few months. :)

[SevenKindsOfCookie]

Most Americans have a Vitamin D deficiency anyway, so you're not alone. Go outside! 10 minutes in the sun everyday is enough to harness your daily dose.

That depends a whole lot on where you live. In large parts of the world there's very little to no UVB light available this time of year so additional sources are essential if you want to keep adequate vitamin d levels.

[DeniseM]

There's a special type of vitamin-D enhanced mushroom available in some stores -- it's grown under UVB light and has a pretty impressive vitamin-D content. I think they're called "D3 Mushrooms" or something similar. Apart from that, it's smart to supplement with vitamin D if you live somewhere at high latitudes, in a not-so-sunny climate, or during the dark winter months. Very important for bone health :)

Some people seem to get by for a long time without supplementing B-12, but I developed a deficiency one year into raw. I definitely recommend supplementing that, unless you want to get regular blood tests to see what your levels are.

Ideally, we'd all be living in the tropics eating plenty of B-12-rich dirt on our food, but since that isn't always possible, supplements are an adequate alternative... ;)

[RawSar]

I get B12 shots regularly, I've been deficient many times... I think my coffee habit has something to do with this.... ........................:o

I know my vit. D is really low too but I just havent found the right supplement for that just yet. I might just wait till the weather gets nice and see if I can boost it naturally.

I also take enzymes, algae, chlorella, aminos, and acidolphilis.

Get a test to make sure you are actually needing to supplement before you do since any excess can build up and become toxic to the body - or so I'm read but why spend money on something you dont even need... :D

[joyce09]

I read that spirulina has plenty of B12. Is that right?

[DopeRawAbundance]

I read that spirulina has plenty of B12. Is that right?
It seems the argument with any vegan B12 source is as follows: does it really contain B12, or just inactive B12 analogues? The question that tends to drive me hazy: if every vegan B12 source is just inactive analogues, then why aren't all Vegan B12 supplements just inactive analogues?

OH this just TOO GYOOD.

http://images1.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Syndrome-The-Incredibles-disney-villains-1038362_203_152.jpg

[arrty]

Haha...ya, actually the sun has been pretty scarce around here the past few months. :)

Upstate NY is the absolute worst! I'm in Troy and I don't even want to go outside it's so cold... and when I do go outside I have about 3 layers on and a hood so I doubt I get any vitamin D from the sun either.

One think I always wondered is if we absorb vitamin D from fresh fruits and veggies which use sunlight to grow?

[RawKnitster]

I supplement with "Jarrows" Methyl B12 and "Source Naturals" cholecalciferol, a liquid form of Vitamin D3 that come from combing sheep's wool. Both are supposed to be "bioactive" or "bioavailable".

A professor at Bastyr told me spirulina is a questionable source of B12, and it was best to supplement. He was referring to a study. Some long term vegetarians that supplemented with spirulina developed a B12 deficiency. I don't think that necessarily speaks to spirulina being questionable. After all, the number of vegetarians that have a deficiency is still a smaller percentage than meat-eaters with B12 deficiency. Maybe the lack of B12 in the diet is not the only factor to be considered...?

[joyce09]

What about brewer's yeast? I heard it has plenty of Vit. Bs?

[RawKnitster]

What about brewer's yeast? I heard it has plenty of Vit. Bs?

It does. Only B12 is not part of the Bs in it, naturally. The B12 is supplemented.

[sport]

I supplement with "Jarrows" Methyl B12 and "Source Naturals" cholecalciferol, a liquid form of Vitamin D3 that come from combing sheep's wool. Both are supposed to be "bioactive" or "bioavailable".
.?

I just googled that D3 and it is in gelatin so not for me
Other Ingredients: maltrin, gelatin (capsule), colloidal silicon dioxide, and magnesium stearate

[Amarynth]

Upstate NY is the absolute worst! I'm in Troy and I don't even want to go outside it's so cold... and when I do go outside I have about 3 layers on and a hood so I doubt I get any vitamin D from the sun either.

One think I always wondered is if we absorb vitamin D from fresh fruits and veggies which use sunlight to grow?



Oh yes...you are waaay north of me. I'm in the Hudson Valley Region myself, and the sun is actually out today but daaaayam it's bitter cold. Only 9 degrees according to my temp thing. I am going out to the produce market, getting slim pickin's around here...and I need to start stocking up on other stuff so I can start trying those recipes in Alissa's book! :)

I feel you though, it's probably waaay colder up in Troy.

[Jessican]

I just googled that D3 and it is in gelatin so not for me
Other Ingredients: maltrin, gelatin (capsule), colloidal silicon dioxide, and magnesium stearate


D3 does come in tablets (but I don't know how those are made) and they aren't utelized by your body as well as the gell capsules. If you still can't find a supplement I've heard that using a tanning bed will help your body make it's own Vit D

And I too, live in North where my Dr said EVERYONE should be on a D3 supplement in the winter. Even if you DID get your 15 min/day outside sleeveless, there sun still isn't strong enough this time of year.

[bikediva]

One teaspoon of chlorella powder has 60% of your B12 for the day.

[snoops]

I have a D3 supp that is liquid and vegan. Just need to look around. Got mine from a naturopath.

[RawKnitster]

I just googled that D3 and it is in gelatin so not for me
Other Ingredients: maltrin, gelatin (capsule), colloidal silicon dioxide, and magnesium stearate

Interesting.... there must be various forms of it. The form I use is liquid. I put five drops in water or a smoothie. The other ingredients listed on the bottle are vegetable glycerin, deionized water, polysorbate 80, citric acid, natural orange, and lemon essentail oil. Most of those seem harmless. Polysorbate 80 is questionable, but since I'm past the age of fertility, I won't worry about it.

[Vegansara]

My doc has me taking calcium + D and B-12, as well as a megadose of D right now; I just got my bloodwork done and was very very low (Suprise! I live in Seattle *and* wear sunblock on my face every day). Even though I feel like my diet is by far healthier than most, I find myself taking what I consider to be a lot of supplements right now. My bloodwork came back mostly fine - I don't even think I was too low on the B-12, just on the low side - which is pretty sweet if you ask me since I've been vegetarian since 1993 and vegan since 2000. I'm also taking pre-natals ;)

[Green_Woman]

I had a B-12 deficiency PRIOR to going Raw, so now I occasionally take a raw, vegan B-12 supplement. :) It's called GARDEN OF LIFE, I believe? Don't quote me on that. I'm heading out the door and don't want to go check. *laughs*

But I only supplement once a week, at the most, anymore. (Daily for the first few weeks of 100% RAW, now only once a week.)

Also, I eat LOTS of fermented foods... raw saurkraut, living Miso soup, for starters. :D

I believe eventually I won't need the supplements, or at the most will only need them on rare occasion. For now, I'm happy they exist so I can enjoy stable energy and fewer crashes.

I also drink GREEN SMOOTHIES daily... and those are really the trick for getting all your vitamins and minerals, I believe. ;)

[BlackFlag]

You can't have a single compound deficiency.. the body simply does not work this way, it's a much broader issue if you have symptoms. Most commonly an absorption issue.

[arrty]

You can't have a single compound deficiency.. the body simply does not work this way, it's a much broader issue if you have symptoms. Most commonly an absorption issue.
How do you correct absorption issues?

[BlackFlag]

How do you correct absorption issues?
By fasting, followed by a proper diet. That's the fastest way.

[Jessican]

You can't have a single compound deficiency.. the body simply does not work this way, it's a much broader issue if you have symptoms. Most commonly an absorption issue.

I don't follow this theory at all - Vit D is made by the body - not absorbed and B12 can't be found in raw fruits and veggies - so how are these defienciencies a resultof absorbtion issues?

[DopeRawAbundance]

I don't follow this theory at all - Vit D is made by the body - not absorbed and B12 can't be found in raw fruits and veggies - so how are these defienciencies a resultof absorbtion issues?

Well, for example, B12, if I remember correctly, is allegedly just as deficient in Standard Americano Diet as with raw fooders and vegans. Just because you're eating foods with the vitamins in it doesn't mean you're getting those vitamins.

I don't know if what BlackFlag says is true but I figured I'd throw that out in the open.

[Thats Life]

Right, I'm a bit confused, i have been eating raw food for the past 3 weeks, i have booked in for a blood test to see where I'm standing nutrient wise..

I'm looking better, energy levels are through the roof. I'm probably over eating, i have been exercising regular, lots of swimming and gym work, sauna's, I'm thinking i should have a few sessions on sunbeds to improve my vitamin D..

Today i bought some linseed, ground flax, and sesame seeds..i imagine these seeds go straight through us undigested if we don't chew or grind) I'm just unsure on how much of everything i need, the way it is now I'm just cramming my face with whatever... I've ordered a bio-snacky germinator so sprouts will be plentiful soon and im planning on buying a bulk of hemp seeds to sprout (hopefully local fishing tackle shops seeds are sprout-able.

maybe sleep is lacking, im gradually feeling myself become more at one withmyself, as i write this i feel i could shut off the laptop and just nod off..

Can anyone guide me of how much of everything i need to be eating, ratio wise..

and whats the thoughts on live natural yogurt, i got a pot today and it was scruptious with some of my gluten oats, flax, rasins etc...

and which flax would you buy from this list... http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1312&_nkw=flaxseed&_sacat=See-All-Categories...

what are any other essentials? i'm planning on getting cacao beans from ebay, .. i have so many questions... whats the crack with cod liver oil? and how do i go about buying/growing algae?

[DebB]

FWIW - My holistic MD recommends taking Vitamin D supplement with the 'fattiest' meal of the day for best absorption. *Ü*

[Green_Woman]

Can anyone guide me of how much of everything i need to be eating, ratio wise.. .

Alissa Cohen goes into that really well in her book LIVING ON LIVE FOOD. I strongly recommend you get a copy ASAP.

[Nikkan18]

I have a question. I'm wondering what y'all think of taking supplements. Ive been reading about B-12 and vitamin D deficiency
and I dont think I'm getting enough being on the raw diet. Whatcha all think? Do y'all take supplements?
Thanks, Jeff

Hey
I agree, i was raw and when i went to the doctors they ran some test saying i had a vitamin d deficiency, that was alll so all i did was take some vitamins in which i just highly recommend for optimum health

Wendy

[VeGenesis]

It seems the argument with any vegan B12 source is as follows: does it really contain B12, or just inactive B12 analogues? The question that tends to drive me hazy: if every vegan B12 source is just inactive analogues, then why aren't all Vegan B12 supplements just inactive analogues?



I would suggest reading http://www.veganhealth.org/. This guy uses B-12 recovery testing to show what really is B-12 and what is not.

He has a Raw Food Page about it at: http://www.veganhealth.org/b12/raw

He also has info on his site about Vit-D also. I have a note another gave me that says we need 35 IU of D per pound of body. So figure out your source!

Hope that helps...

[VeGenesis]

FWIW - My holistic MD recommends taking Vitamin D supplement with the 'fattiest' meal of the day for best absorption. *Ü*

I find that taking the D with the nuts in the evening works for me.

I eat
4-5 Almonds (Vit E)
1 Brazil (Selenium)
2.5 English Walnuts (Omega-3)

Plus D if I didn't get in the sun... Put I live 10 degrees above the equator. In the Tropics!

xxxxx

METHYL B-12 (Methylcobalamin) under the tongue is a must for me. They are 1000 mch but I cut mine in half. The ones I get from the Health Food Store are Vegan, but I accept they may not be raw.