Where do you get your b12?

[EscapeArtist]

if it's a supplement, which supplement? is it raw?

[Dimond]

Garden Of Life Probiotics. Has all the rare nutrients I need, plus it protects the immune system.

[Inca_faerie]

I get mine from Webber naturals in the form of Methylcobalamine, I doubt it's "raw" and I don't mind in the slightest. ;)

[Aleesha Sattva]

Personally I don't believe in the whole... we need to supplement our diets for b12 theory.

Wanna know why?

Cause I have NEVER supplemented my diet at all and my levels are high... even with all the fasting I do... my levels are high.

So... how could they be high if we need to supplement and I don't supplement?

*steps out of the room and vanishes like a cloud on a misty night in Vegas*

[klomasius]

Personally I don't believe in the whole... we need to supplement our diets for b12 theory.

Wanna know why?

Cause I have NEVER supplemented my diet at all and my levels are high... even with all the fasting I do... my levels are high.

So... how could they be high if we need to supplement and I don't supplement?

*steps out of the room and vanishes like a cloud on a misty night in Vegas*

Oooh this is tricky territory...

It's such a complex process and it's not just intake but absorption as well.

Once of the reasons why people are urged to supplement is that the symptoms of B12 deficiency are scary and sometimes permanent if levels get too low.

Personally I have been feeling the same as you Aleesha, but I'd never personally advise anyone not to take B12 supps (not that I think you are). I currently take a B12 supp made from fermented plum skins.

The key is to get REGULARLY TESTED! Especially if anyone isn't using supplements, get a test once a year to check their levels. Everyone, regardless of supps or not should get tested. And get a urine test, these are more accurate with less 'masking' of deficiency symptoms.

I'm planning to go off supps as a test at some stage. I have a friend who reversed his low B12 levels with naturally fermented saurkraut in 6 months.

I feel strongly that B12 can be adequately sourced from raw foods with a little effort but that our sanitary lifestyle has meant we don't access it like we used to when we ate 'organic' (when there was no other word for just vegetables and fruit because it was all chemical free).

I could go on forever on this topic, but I too think I might melt away...

But the bottom line is, GET TESTED! that way you can know for sure what your levels are.

[DebB]

I have to supplement my B12 (http://www.iherb.com/Jarrow-Formulas-Methyl-B-12-5000-mcg-60-Lozenges/117?at=0) for a condition I have (positive for MTHFR) and for that I use what my doctor (holistic MD) recommends for me. I doubt it's raw - actually, I don't have any idea... *Ü*

[sport]

I supplement. Currently I use DEVA.
I have used this one in the past
http://www.thevitamincode.com/TargetedNutrientFormulas/RawB12/tabid/1624/Default.aspx

[Raw Angel Mom]

(((Aleesha))), thank you for sharing your experience. I feel this way too. It is so good to know. I supplement my daughter for now, until i know at 100% that this B12 is no use but for me, i rarely take it. Only once in a while. According to many, including Brigitte Marsh, we can get the B12 if we don't wash our greens directly from the garden. I wouldn't do that from the Market unless i know the farmer because God knows who touched that product before it ended up in my basket. We will be monitering our level and see what happen.

[reina80]

I am severely deficient because I have an autoimmune disorder that makes it more difficult to absorb. I am also anemic. I use a natural sublingual supplement- likely not raw but its not important to me. I just need supplements, I'd likely be alot worse off if not for my diet.

[Aleesha Sattva]

all of levels of everything were dangerously low and my blood pressure and cholesterol was dangerously high before i went raw. going raw reversed everything. no supplements no nothing.

lots of green smoothies
lots of kale salads
lots of raw desserts
lots of raw live juice
lots of meditation

and VOILA my levels were at optimal values in 6 months!!!

but... everyone must do what is right for them. i'm just sharing what is very right for me. :)

[revdrcyn]

My levels tend to run low so my endocrinologist recommended I use an under-the-tongue supplement. I will continue to monitor my levels since I have a once-yearly blood panel for thyroid issues. I look forward to giving up the supplement someday, but for now, that's how it is.

There's an episode of The Renegade Health Show in which Kevin Gianni discusses B-12 supplementation for raw foodists:

http://renegadehealth.com/blog/2008/05/08/vitamin-b12-for-raw-foodies-vegans-and-everyone-else-the-renegade-health-show-episode-48/

[Stella Green]

I started taking a vitamin B complex with a healthy dosage of B12 and my pee turned this strange neon yellow! I thought it strange, stopped taking the vitamin and pee went back to clear (I drink lots and lots of water.)

[Raw Angel Mom]

I started taking a vitamin B complex with a healthy dosage of B12 and my pee turned this strange neon yellow! I thought it strange, stopped taking the vitamin and pee went back to clear (I drink lots and lots of water.)

Some vitamin B will do this and this isn't good at all. Nano-B complex from Gabriel Cousens seems to be ok

[RawTorahKeeper]

Stella,

That's happened to me too! I think it's the yellow dye in the supplement that makes our urine turn sunny yellow. Is that a bad thing?
I wonder if there is a B-complex supplement that can be taken under the tongue. I know there are B-12's that can be taken that way. Hmmm... I will have to check it out next time I am at the health food store.

Does anyone know if Vitamin Code's 'Raw' vitamins discolor your urine?

[Juniper44]

I take supplement B-12 and D because If I don't my arm will go numb.For years I thought that I was anemic but that wasn't case.

[peachblueberry]

I think we all have different body chemistry. Personally for me I like to supplement just to be sure. When I did 100% raw I unfortunately did not get the amazing results that Aleesha did--one thing I cannot stand kale, so I'm sure what I eat is a bit different.

I just broke my blender accidentally (had a pretty big move lately and it the glass broke :( ) but I do like green smoothies and giant salads! (Just not kale please!)

But I get grumpy and loopy if my b12 is low, so I supplement.

[PunkRotten]

Nutritional yeast has B12 in it.

[Shels]

I just googled a list of the foods highest in it, and eight out of ten were carcasses. Uck.
Personally, I don't believe in or worry about supplementing, but I do enjoy nutritional yeast, very much. It's easy to get in to your diet as well, especially if you like raw cheeze like I do. :D

[RawHealthyBeauty]

When I first went raw, I did tons of researches on vitamins and minerals.
It's in my notes somewhere that I read that parsley has a good amount of B12 in it. I usually use parsley for my salad dressing!! :)
Alissa has this great recipe combo to juice parsley in her book!!!!

[sport]

Surely it is easier and safer to just supplement.
I want to wash my fruit and veg thoroughly even if it comes from my own garden. The neighbour's cats may have peed on it and you know what sort of disease that can carry.

[klomasius]

Just to clarify, nutritional yeast does not naturally contain B12, it's fortified with it (the B12 most likely cones from a bacterial source). Just something to remember as some nutritional yeasts are not fortified with B12, check the ingredients.

And I'm almost 100% certain that parsley does not contain a bio-available form of B12. It may contain b12 as part of the bacterial contamination on its surface. But I wouldn't count on this as a source of B12.

Sport, it may just be easier to supplement, but what if, after careful monitoring, some of us find we don't need supplementation? Of course the yearly tests should continue without end as existing B12 stores can take years to deplete.

[smiley]

Aleesha, I'm very impressed that you have done extensive fasting and don't take any supplementation, and your Vitamin B12 is optimal. Would you mind sharing your Vitamin B12 and D test results?

Here's mine - I was a nonvegan raw foodist (about 10% of my diet was raw meat, fish, oysters, and sheep cheese) for 4 years but then changed to vegan raw for the last 3 years.

B12: 160
D: 26

Even though my B12 and D is low by medical standards, I don't have any symptoms. I feel very healthy.

Here's my husband's (he has been a 90% cooked vegan and 10% cooked vegetarian for a little over 3 years):

B12: 612
D: 33

I've emailed Storm also to see if he doesn't mind sharing his B12 and D results too. Storm has been raw over 30 years and doesn't supplement.

Would anyone else mind sharing their test results? :)

[RawHealthyBeauty]

Well, here is where I got the idea that parsley has B12.

The link is not working, but if you google benefits of parsley, this link will be the first on the list to show up and take you directly to the page about Parsley.
http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/diet_nutrition/ParsleyBenefits.htm

[Cottonball McFluffy]

Parsley isn't listed as having any form of B12 in it. Not one it would synthesize itself or animal based. So any B12 you might be getting from it would be from the parsley's animal contacts (ie. poop... TMI, I know).
Plantlife listed as having some measure of B12 in it would include seaweeds and mushrooms, but it's been indicated that the B12 in those too would be in small quantities and the result of the manure used for fertilization.

However.. there's some indication that the body might be able to produce B12 on it's own if the body's own bacteria is healthy and functional.

[RawHealthyBeauty]

Okay, that is really gross to be getting my B12 from!! I clean my veggies and fruits very well!!! :)

Anyways, just want to clear up why I thought parsley have B12 and it's from what I've read on this site. The name is Dr. Denice M. Moffat and the site is called Natural Health Techniques under The Article called "Parsley: One of the Seven's World Most Potent Disease Fighting Spices."

Sorry, I didn't post this info when I first mentioned it.

Here are the parts from the article from the same link (http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/diet_nutrition/ParsleyBenefits.htm)

• Immune booster: The high vitamin C, beta carotene, B12, chlorophyll and essential fatty acid content render parsley an extraordinary immunity enhancing food. Parsley is an immune-enhancing multi-vitamin and mineral complex in green plant form and one of the most important herbs for providing vitamins to the body.

Nutritional Benefits of Parsley: Parsley is a nutrient powerhouse containing high levels of beta carotene, vitamin B12, folate, chlorophyll, calcium, more vitamin C than citrus fruits, and just about all other known nutrients. Parsley is a moistening, nourishing, restoring, ‘warming’ food, pungent with a slightly bitter, salty flavor. It enhances and stimulates the energy of organs, improving their ability to assimilate and utilize nutrients.

Vitamin B12: Parsley contains traces of B12 producing compounds. Such compounds are needed for the formation of red blood cells and normal cell growth, important for fertility, pregnancy, immunity and the prevention of degenerative illness. The action of vitamin B12, however, is inhibited by birth control pills, antibiotics, intoxicants, stress, sluggish liver, and excess bacteria or parasites in the colon or digestive tracts. Parsley helps to counteract these inhibitors.

[Aleesha Sattva]

Aleesha, I'm very impressed that you have done extensive fasting and don't take any supplementation, and your Vitamin B12 is optimal. Would you mind sharing your Vitamin B12 and D test results?


i don't have them... but i'll get them for ya next time i see my doctor and let you know.

[smiley]

Thank you Aleesha! I am looking forward to seeing your results.

Would anyone else sharing their test results too?