vitamin b12

[maydolphin10]

i searched in the banana for some threads about b12 but couldnt find any. does anyone supplement with b12? i read an article by dr. stanley bass yesterday and he tried to search for the ultimate vegetarian diet. his conclusions were that it was best to add egg yolk or cheese to an otherwise raw vegan diet. this was because he studied 3 generations of vegans and saw that the 3rd generation began to have deformities. he found that once b12 was added, the deformities went away. i want to be vegan so rather than have egg yolks or cheese, i am going to supplement with b12. i'm raw for my health so i'm not going to take any chances and ruin it.

[Rawkinlocs]

There is b-12 info here: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=19

I currently do not supplement, but should the need arise later or I begin to sense in my own body that I need to, I may take one then. But for now, no, I do not.

But not ALL raw vegans or (even vegans for that matter) end up with a b-12 deficiency AND there are actually some meat, cheese and egg-eating ominvores who end up with b-12 deficiency as well.

[Goddess_girl]

never; NO NEED TO.

[Halo Aglow]

Yep, I take a B12 supplement on occassion.

I was really confused about this subject when I first started going raw. Maybe I still am confused but my belief is that our soil has been ruined and raped so much by unnatural means that it is not as nutritious anymore. When I get in the situation of having my own organic garden and greenhouse, I do believe that I will not have to supplement anymore.

[sport]

Even when you do have your own organic garden that does not mean that you will be getting B12. It is made by bacteria and the only way you will get it is if you do not wash your produce properly. Maybe we should tie this tread in to the one about Victoria eating dirt.
I supplement because I am afraid to take the risk not to. You can store it for up to 3 years so if you have just turned vegan then you do not need to worry for some time. The effects of shortage can be devestating (including nerve damage and memory loss) and permenant.

[Goddess_girl]

Even when you do have your own organic garden that does not mean that you will be getting B12. It is made by bacteria and the only way you will get it is if you do not wash your produce properly. Maybe we should tie this tread in to the one about Victoria eating dirt.
I supplement because I am afraid to take the risk not to. You can store it for up to 3 years so if you have just turned vegan then you do not need to worry for some time. The effects of shortage can be devestating (including nerve damage and memory loss) and permenant.

I thought it was 12 years?
Humm. I read it in a vegan book; i will have to lookin my library.

Anyways my doc (who is my cousin ; and trusted)told me not to worry about it.

So I dont.

[Halo Aglow]

12 years sounds too long of a time. Yes, I know B12 is made from bacteria, what I meant by organic is just me being in control of the quality and richness of my soil, which I plan to make sure some is still on my produce.

[misslinda]

i thought this article was helpful but i'm open to more info.


http://www.veganhealth.org/b12/all

[Mysticat]

I also heard it was stored for 3 years...

[rawpriestess]

No, I don't take any kind of suppliments, as I can't pick them off a tree or bush, so (to me) they are not natural.

I also kiss my dog on the face all the time, eat right out of my garden without washing my food, and swim in a lake, where I am sure I get lots of fun creepy slimy critters up my nose and in my mouth while I'm swimming, so I doubt if I have anything to worry about.

Raw food is natural, I wouldn't worry about not getting the proper nutrients unless you use one of those veggie sprays that they sell at the grocery store, I mean how un-natural is that?

[SamuelWilson]

rawpriestess, I agree with you on this issue. I do not take any supplements either. If mother nature can not provide it for me, then I don't need it.

[sport]

I do not agree with you regarding the spray that you buy to clean veg. It is not there to remove any of the stuff that nature put on the veg but just the stuff that man in his "wisdom" has added. If you are eating your own stuff then you do not need it but we do not all have that luxury. When Samual starts his garden and supplying us then we will have less to wory about.

[SamuelWilson]

I just want to mention that I never said anything against the sprays. I should have been more clear. I was agreeing with rawpriestess about getting everything we need nutrients wise, from mother nature.

Obviously, if you buy non organic vegetables (or organic ones for that matter), then spraying them off with something is better than leaving a chemical residue on the produce.

I personally buy only organic (accept for corn on the cob because right now it is not available to me in organic, but will be very soon). When I get my vegetables, I wash them off with water.

Not to make anyone sick, but earlier today I was cutting up some romaine lettuce for some "living tacos" that I was going to make and I ran up on leafhopper. Being a vegan, I took it in my hand and carried it outside where I released it. I personally feel better finding bugs on my produce. This is my way of knowing it is really organic.
http://www.vegedge.umn.edu/vegpest/pics/alhnymtn.jpg

[misslinda]

personally, the only reason i do not wash my produce is b/c i am lazy :o but i think that as poor as the air quality is and what settles when it carries (germs,smoke,arsenic etc), i'd be more inclined to rinse /wash my goodies.

[rawpriestess]

I don't wash or rinse anything,

If I die, I die.

I figure it this way, if it looks good to me, and I "feel" it is right to eat, then I will eat it, as is.

If It doesn't "feel" right, I'm not buying it in the first place.

I go by what food wants to come home with me, although I hardly buy anything at the store, so this isn't a big challenge.

I did buy some kiwi and a pineapple today, big spender that I am. LOL