Is the lack of VITAMIN B12 in a Vegetarian diet just a MYTH?!
People are simply looking at the fact that plant foods do not contain B12 listed in a nutrition chart, and they think that is the end of it. They are unaware of any more information about it. But when you look at the whole picture, there is more to it than that. I will explain.
You know, I always found it strange that cow meat contains B12, and so does the meat of any other herbivorous mammal you can find listed in a nutrition chart. I found it strange that a vegetarian diet has no source of B12, when somehow all these other animals that do not eat meat somehow have B12 in their own bodies.
Did anyone else ever think to themselves, "So where did the COW get it's B12? The cow didn't eat meat." Think about it. If B12 comes from animals, then where did the animals get it from in the first place? From eating other animals? Okay, where did THOSE animals get it from? None of them could not have gotten it from eating plant food, right?
To me the obvious solution was that the animals somehow MADE the B12 within their own systems. Well, I thought, if that's true, then what is to say that human don't do the same thing? We are animals, too, after all. Why should there be one lone exception?
Well that was about a dozen years ago, and I have since found out a lot about nutrition. And I can now give you some facts about B12. It turns out that my speculation was very much on the right track.
B12 is not a vegetarian problem. It is a human problem. I have spoken to a number of health practitioners who tell me that they see plenty of vegetarians and meat-eaters alike who have B12 deficiencies.
It turns out that B12 is a microbe that is produced as a waste byproduct by bacteria in our own intestines. So we do not need to get it from eating animal products. However, it is not that simple. These B12-producing bacteria flourish when we eat fruits and vegetables, and suffer when we eat herbs, spices, and particularly onions and garlic. If you eat enough of these things, you will kill off the B12-producing bacteria. Meat eaters and vegetarians are both capable of having this problem.
There is a solution to this, however. If you have killed off these bacteria, you can replenish them by eating unwashed produce. This contains B12 on the outside, as it is found in the soil, and on the surface of grass and other plants. The problem is that it is only on the outside, so most people wash it off.
Personally, I never wash mine, since it is all organic, and has no chemical sprays on the outside. The cooties from the farmer's hands having touched the produce don't scare me. Man-made chemical poisons do. Our immune system(if we treat it right) is very well equipped to deal with the former, but not the latter.
Nutrition is a science with a lot of specifics and technical information. "Soundbite nutrition"-which is abundant in the mainstream- is often incomplete and misleading. It is always important to get all of the information, and not just one piece of the puzzle.
Good question!
Answers: Yes.
People are simply looking at the fact that plant foods do not contain B12 listed in a nutrition chart, and they think that is the end of it. They are unaware of any more information about it. But when you look at the whole picture, there is more to it than that. I will explain.
You know, I always found it strange that cow meat contains B12, and so does the meat of any other herbivorous mammal you can find listed in a nutrition chart. I found it strange that a vegetarian diet has no source of B12, when somehow all these other animals that do not eat meat somehow have B12 in their own bodies.
Did anyone else ever think to themselves, "So where did the COW get it's B12? The cow didn't eat meat." Think about it. If B12 comes from animals, then where did the animals get it from in the first place? From eating other animals? Okay, where did THOSE animals get it from? None of them could not have gotten it from eating plant food, right?
To me the obvious solution was that the animals somehow MADE the B12 within their own systems. Well, I thought, if that's true, then what is to say that human don't do the same thing? We are animals, too, after all. Why should there be one lone exception?
Well that was about a dozen years ago, and I have since found out a lot about nutrition. And I can now give you some facts about B12. It turns out that my speculation was very much on the right track.
B12 is not a vegetarian problem. It is a human problem. I have spoken to a number of health practitioners who tell me that they see plenty of vegetarians and meat-eaters alike who have B12 deficiencies.
It turns out that B12 is a microbe that is produced as a waste byproduct by bacteria in our own intestines. So we do not need to get it from eating animal products. However, it is not that simple. These B12-producing bacteria flourish when we eat fruits and vegetables, and suffer when we eat herbs, spices, and particularly onions and garlic. If you eat enough of these things, you will kill off the B12-producing bacteria. Meat eaters and vegetarians are both capable of having this problem.
There is a solution to this, however. If you have killed off these bacteria, you can replenish them by eating unwashed produce. This contains B12 on the outside, as it is found in the soil, and on the surface of grass and other plants. The problem is that it is only on the outside, so most people wash it off.
Personally, I never wash mine, since it is all organic, and has no chemical sprays on the outside. The cooties from the farmer's hands having touched the produce don't scare me. Man-made chemical poisons do. Our immune system(if we treat it right) is very well equipped to deal with the former, but not the latter.
Nutrition is a science with a lot of specifics and technical information. "Soundbite nutrition"-which is abundant in the mainstream- is often incomplete and misleading. It is always important to get all of the information, and not just one piece of the puzzle.
Good question!
Depends on the type of vegetarian. A lacto-ovo vegetarian, or even a lactovegetarian, or ovo vegetarian, can get B12 from milk and/or eggs.
A vegan usually can get their Vitaming B-12 from fortified cereals and other foods. It's not impossible. Vitamin B-12 is more common in animal products. Also, you need such a small amount of it, that you can easily get it from cereal and such.
If one is concerned, they can take a vitamin supplement.
The big concern in a vegan diet is the lack of animal proteins (amino acids) needed for proper human cellular growth.
No, but I agree with "red riter" the lack of amino acids is a bigger concern.
It's a concern for vegans but not vegetarians.
I've heard that even non vegetarians can lack B12. I don't know if it's a myth. I'm hearing so many different opinions on the subject. I've heard you get B12 from wild plants, I've heard you can only get it from meat, animal products, ect... I don't know why it's so hard to find out.
for those vegetarians who convereted as adults, yes. for thsoe who were vegetarian since birth, no.
B12 is reused by the body so a vegetarian who was a previous omni has enough B12 in their bodies to last for 20-30 years. The only risk group in adults are pregnant or lactating women.
Children who are vegetarians/vegans since birth need additional B12. However, B12 is can be obtained in some yeast brands and supplemets so the vegetarian/vegan principles are not compromised. For those who are not vegans or those who consume dairy, this is not a problem at all.
Plants based sources of B12 are not good sources as they exist in very insignificant amounts (23 cups of spinach a day for example to meet b12 requirements for adults) or are unusable B12.
It’s a myth. At some point of time I gave the following answer to a similar question by some one~~~~~
How do the biggest and strongest vegetarian animals—like the elephant, camel, horse, buffalo, hippo, and rhino get their nutrition, including B12, from?
it's true for vegans, but if you eat eggs and milk it isn't a problem
B12 – ALL B12 comes from bacteria, in fact animal feed given to indoor reared animals may be fortified with B12 because the animals are not getting the bacteria they would if they grazed the soil.
Everyone, vegan or not, needs to be aware of B12.
If you don't eat any animal products (vegan) the Vegan Society recommends that vegans should do ONE of the following:
1. Eat fortified foods two or three times a day
2. Take one B12 supplement daily providing at least 10 micrograms or
3. Take a weekly B12 supplement providing at least 2000 micrograms
You many find high dose B12 tablets – don’t worry, it is extremely difficult to overdose on B12.
B12 absorption in the body may decrease with age, this may happen to anyone, vegan or not.
A blood B12 level measurement is a very unreliable. Blood homocysteine testing is more reliable, with levels less than 10 mmol/litre being desirable.
And don’t believe that rubbish about amino acids (rolls eyes). Most vegetarians and vegans in the west eat too much protein so get more than enough. The body actually needs very little protein, about 45grams a day and there is protein in everything we eat even salad. We have a protein obsession in the west which I really wish we would get over. I can’t believe people even pull that one anymore
If you've eaten meat before, it is quite a myth, as vit b12 stores in our bodies for more than 30 years!!
If you haven't, and you don't eat eggs or dairy, it is possible. Try to get supplements or eat sea weed!!
Its a myth
This article from the veggie society is very useful if you want to know about b12.
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/b12.html
veggies get B12 from eggs and dairy.
You can always find examples of people on bad diets who are lacking in something or other, this applies to meat and veggie diets. a decent vegetarian diet though, is not inherently lacking in b12.
vegans would be a different matter and they have to consider b12
From experience I can tell you it is NOT a myth. I became a vegetarian about 10 years ago. Without knowing it my B12 slowly depleted. It can take years before your storage declines. I had all sorts of problems from being very,very tired, no appetite, but the worst of all was that I could hardly walk so stiff were my joints! I also was depressed without knowing it. After years of doctor and hospital visits I myself discovered it was a B12 deficit. After taking high dosis I could (after 2months) walk normally, could eat everything, was never tired and felt extremely happy. So no myth.
The thing is you have to take B12 after a meal and you have to let it dissolve in your mouth, otherwise it is not well absorbed by your body. You can find many articles on the internet if you are interested.
People who are not vegetarian can for several reasons get a B12 deficit.Many older people have a deficit and could easily be helped by taking pills or a B12 injection.
It's a myth at all...vegetarian diet is balanced in all manner..I am vegetarian from a very long period and I am having all nutritions from my diet..
This kind of thing will lead people to think that veg people are a bunch of loons.
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"the lack of amino acids is a bigger concern."
She gets dumber as the days go by.
Yes. I've been vegan my whole life, as have my two siblings, and we've never been sick with ANYTHING. The idea that you have to eat dead animals to be healthy is ridiculous. Humans are NATURAL HERBIVORES- just look at the diets of our closest relatives.