An easy guide to Vitamin B12
Small but decidedly mighty; little but markedly fierce; vitamin B12 is frequently overlooked yet could just be the simple boost you need to transform your health and energy levels.
Tiredness, lethargy, apathy - all possible symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency. It’s essential for nerve production, artery health and even making new red blood cells. Not to mention that it’s needed by every cell in the body to produce energy and keep us functioning optimally.
But the kicker is that we can’t make it ourselves and we can’t store it very well - so we need a supply of it every single day if we want to stay active and enjoying life.
It’s often the little things that matter - vitamin B12 doesn’t sound very impressive but it packs a mighty punch when it comes to every process in the body that produces energy. It supports our mental health, helps us focus, maintains normal red blood cells, boosts the immune system and happily provides us with the spring in our step and the bounce in our day.
B12 is a vital part of "the folate cycle", a series of reactions that take place in every cell of the body to provide that cell with energy
B12 is converted into other forms that are used to metabolise fats, build proteins or red blood cells and even make DNA.
Producing energy day after day is hard work. And takes lots of nutrients. One of the key vitamins that’s essential in the process is vitamin B12. Without it, we’re unable to transform the food we eat into heat, movement and power. Research has shown that having sufficient B12 can reduce fatigue, combat tiredness and help you feel stronger.
Vitamin B12 is needed to produce serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood. Research so far has shown that supplementing B12 when someone has a deficiency can help improve both their mood and reduce levels of depression.
Vitamin B12 is known as a neurotropic vitamin because it plays an essential role in the health of both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Low levels of B12 have been linked with cognitive impairment and we know that vitamin B12 is essential for the DNA synthesis of the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve axons. It is also vital to repair nerve damage and regenerate nerve tissues after any injury.
Vitamin B12 is needed to help convert the amino acid homocysteine to methionine. Homocysteine is naturally produced in the body, but if it’s not converted and excreted efficiently, it can build up and clog the arteries. Decreasing oestrogen levels, falling thyroid hormone levels and declining B12 absorption from food contribute to increased homocysteine levels as we age, which may be why our cardiovascular health declines as we get older.
Without enough vitamin B12, we are unable to make sufficient numbers of new red blood cells, and the ones that we do make may be the wrong size. This prevents them from travelling from the bone marrow (where they're made) into the bloodstream (where they're used). As red blood cells carry oxygen, carbon dioxide and other nutrients throughout the body, lower numbers can result in fatigue and low energy levels. A more pervasive drop in red blood cell production may result in anaemia.
Immune cells thrive on oxygen and if the supply of red blood cells that carry oxygen is low, then the immune system can suffer. Low B12 will also impact the activity of white blood cells. Research has shown reduced lymphocyte and natural killer cell activity in patients with low vitamin B12 levels. This improved dramatically when the patients were treated with B12.
You can obtain Vitamin B12 through consuming animal-based foods such as meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, although this may not provide enough B12 for certain individuals such as vegans, vegetarians or those with absorption issues. If you want to make sure you're getting enough then supplementation is a great way to go. Because it can be an energy booster, we recommend you take vitamin B12 in the morning or early afternoon as it may interfere with your sleep if you take it later in the day. Vitamin B12 Zooki can be taken with or without food.
Unlike most capsules and powders which use a synthetic version of B12 called "cyanocobalamin", Vitamin B12 Zooki contains "methylcobalamin" - the natural form of Vitamin B12 produced using bacterial fermentation
The nice thing about vitamin B12 is that it can get to work as soon as it hits the system. It doesn’t build up in the body as we excrete anything we don’t need, but the minute it provides your cells with the fuel they need to pump out energy, you should start to notice that buzz of feeling just that bit brighter and more energetic. But remember that we don’t store it well so you need to replenish your levels every single day. In cases of a larger deficiency, it may take a few weeks before you notice a difference in extreme tiredness or lack of energy.
B12 can benefit everyone, but anyone past the age of 40, anyone following a vegetarian or vegan diet, or anyone with poor digestion can gain even more. Our ability to absorb the B vitamins decreases as we age, mainly because we stop producing the compounds necessary for taking B12 across the gut wall. Certain medications, including the hormonal contraceptive Pill, can reduce the absorption of B12.
The main difference between the bottle and the pump is the serving size. Each 10ml sachet provides 2500mcg of B12, while a 2ml serving (8 pumps) of the bottle provides the same dose.
Additionally, the sachet comes in a strawberry flavour, while the pump comes in a raspberry flavour.
Each 10ml sachet contains 2500 mcg of Vitamin B12 in the form of methylcobalamin. Equally, each 2ml serving (8 pumps) from the bottle is also 2500 mcg.
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is a vital nutrient that plays a crucial role in keeping our bodies healthy. Think of it as the conductor of an orchestra, coordinating the proper functioning of our cells and DNA. It also helps to produce red blood cells, keeping our blood healthy and oxygenated. Without enough vitamin B12, we can experience fatigue, weakness, and even nerve damage. It's found naturally in animal products like meat, eggs, and dairy, so a supplement is absolutely crucial for those following a plant-based diet.
Regardless of whether you choose a sachet or a pump, B12 Zooki tastes delicious and can be enjoyed neat, or mixed with yoghurts, smoothies and more.
If you've opted for the pump, we recommend you have it straight from the spoon or mix it with yoghurts and smoothies.
If you've opted for the sachet, it tastes delicious cold, straight from the sachet - or you can add it to foods if you wish.
Zooki's unique formula encapsulates B12 with lipids to protect it from the digestive system and enhance absorption. This approach bypasses the need for both the limited intrinsic factor production, and also the receptor production, as the lipid-wrapped b12 is able to pass through the intestinal membrane and enter the bloodstream directly, where B12 can be taken up directly by the cells. This results in improved absorption compared to getting B12 from food or traditional supplements.
B12 Zooki is most certainly vegan friendly! It's the perfect supplement for any vegan or vegetarian who is struggling to get enough B12.
B12 Zooki is free from gluten, soy, dairy, alcohol and sugar!
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