How Can I Get Vitamin B12 WITHOUT Taking A Supplement?

Question

I'm a Vegetarian.

I know that it is essential for me to get my Vitamin B12 WITHOUT taking daily weekly or monthly supplements. (NO PILLS WHATSOEVER!).
But, How?

Please, No answers like Vitamin Water, Or any kinf of fruit juice. -_-

(Specific answers on fruits or vegetables, and things of that nature are greatly appreciated)

Peace and Love ! <3

I've noticed the typo, Lol.

The word
'KINF'
Was supposed to be 'KIND'
lol. Please, Don't mind that. I'm not a machine. [:

Answer 1

Spirulina. Its a seaweed that is normally found in powdered form. You can mix it in a smoothie. I like to blend it with coconut water. It is a great source of protein too!

Answer 2

Fruits and vegetables do not contain b-12. The only reliable vegan sources are supplements and fortified foods.

Nutritional yeast has b-12. Some of the other vegan sources that people talk about- tempeh, sea vegetables, etc. have proven to be unreliable.

If you use fortified soymilk daily, you should be fine. Or use nutritional yeast daily- it tastes sort of like cheese. I like to put it on quinoa.

You say you are vegetarian, so I'm not sure how much dairy or eggs you eat. If you eat them daily, you are probably ok also. If not, you should get b-12 another way.

If you take a large dose of b-12, 95% of it won't be absorbed. If you take small daily doses, most of it will be absorbed. So, it's best to have something with b-12 in it daily.

Many vegans are low in b-12. It can cause neurological damage and is serious. I saw a woman the other day whose hearing was damaged when she was b-12 deficient, and she still has hearing problems.

I am a long-term vegan. I thought I was getting enough b-12 from fortified foods and occasional supplementation. I was tested at my doctor's and found out I was on the low side of the normal range and that even at that range, some people have neurological damage.

So, I made sure I had daily supplementation. I didn't want to risk permanent damage.

Best wishes to you.

Answer 3

Most healthy people create their own B12 in their intestines; there is no need to get B12 supplements unless you have a disease called Pernicious Anemia.

If you use dairy products or eggs, you are getting B12 from that in addition to the B12 formed by your body.

One person here said betacarotene is B12, that is incorrect; betacarotene is a form of Vitamin A.

I am a lacto vegetarian, 50 years old, I have never taken a B12 supplement. I am a regular blood donor and my doctor runs lab work on me at least once a year; I have never had anemia of any kind. I haven't eaten meat since 1983.

I doubt if you have anything to worry about unless you have been diagnosed with pernicious anemia and you don't use dairy products or eggs.

Answer 4

Vitamin B12 comes naturally from animals. Vegetarians/vegans need to supplement it using vitamins or other sources.

B12 can be found fortified in most soy milks. It can also be found in nutritional yeasts, which can be bought in a non-active form and used as a condiment, to supplement cheese flavors, or taken directly. Nutritional yeast can be found at most grocery stores, or can be bought online. B12 is also found in the Chinese herb Dang Gui, and the Indonesian tempeh.

The seaweed Spirulina has also been said to contain B12, but published scientific studies have not yet been able to prove that B12, and not similarly detected compounds, are contained in Spirulina, so it is not a recommended source.

Many vegetarians also use a supplement along with these sources.

So in short, with the specifications from your question, you can get B12 from fortified foods such as soy milk or breakfast cereals, from nutritional yeast, from the Chinese herb Dang Gui, from the Indonesian tempeh, or, not provenly, from foods containing Spirulina.

Good luck. Stay healthy.

Answer 5

Do you like wheat germ? I sprinkle it on all kinds of foods. Some foods that are high in B vitamins are whole wheat, brown rice, couscous and oats. Be sure to avoid refined wheat, cereals and rice. Check the ingredients in breakfast cereals for the healthiest ones.

Edit: Here is a little more info for you. Vegans are recommended to ensure their diet includes foods fortified with vitamin B12. A range of B12 fortified foods are available. These include yeast extracts, Vegan vegetable stock, veggieburger mixes, textured vegetable protein, soya milks, vegetable and sunflower margarines, and breakfast cereals.

Answer 6

Fortified cereals and nutritional yeast. There really isn't a vegan source of B12 unless you want to eat dirty vegetables. But you can get B12 supplements that are pretty natural, they are just cultivated from these bacteria and put into a pill. It's what you would get from eating dirt but without the bad germs. There's no harm in taking a supplement for it.

Answer 7

B12 is found in General Mills: Total Raisin Bran and Kellogg's Smart Start cereals. Also in a variety of fish and other seafood. Lots of beef, chuck have b12. You'll have to visit this website that can break it all down for you.

Answer 8

For more information visit www.answers.com. However, people rarely are deficient in vitamin B12 as long as you consume meat, eggs, and dairy products. If you are vegan, meaning you do not consume any type of animal products, than a supplement is recommended.

Answer 9

Hey friend,

Vitamin B12 is abundantly found in meat, liver and fish.

Since you being a vegetarian, you can get them in dairy products like milk. It is also found in barley.

A very prominent natural source of vitamin B12 is found in the Chinese herb Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis).

Other sources are found in fermented products like yeast and other related items.

Hope this will help you. :)

Best Regards,
Girish Chandran
http://www.creativemaking.com

Answer 10

If you eat dairy and/or eggs, you're getting plenty of B12 anyway.
B12 supplements are for vegans, not vegetarians.