Source of Vitamin B12
- Cyanocobalamin is a plant-based source of B12, which is added to soymilk, vegan vitamins and found naturally in spirulina.
- Cow Milk provides the B12 nutritional requirements of human body.
Some bodies are better at retaining B12 than others. The individual body has varying ability to absorb Vitamin B 12. Absorption of vitamin B12 adversely affected by these conditions :
- Lack of intrinsic factor, a glycoprotein secreted by the stomach. This condition is present in pernicious anemia.
- Poorly functioning terminal ileum (this refers to receptors in the small intestine).
- Part of the stomach surgically removed.
- Inadequate digestive enzymes and gastric acid.
- Impaired liver and/or pancreatic function: Liver stores B12, and secretes it in bile. The pancreas is part of the end stage of absorption.
- Old Age : Absorption of Vitamin B12 tends to decrease as you age. B12 is a factor in conditions normally associated with aging, which respond to supplements.
- B-vitamins can make a great difference for an impacted system (long-term exposure to modern living, process foods, no sunlight, chemicals, stress etc.). Which if they accumulate cannot absorb the nutrition anymore? However, at the same time a young system or a cleansed body will absorb the nutrition again.
This young science bases a lot of its research on already 'ill bodies' how they react. That is why western medicine does not heal but surpress pain (far from removing the cause) - it has its place on structural illnesses - broken bones, eye laser etc. - but the subtle causes are induced over time through nutrition and emotional imbalances. And nutrition can remove them again - Food is medicine! 'Young Science' has good pointers but will not replace the 'old science of a holistic long-term view like Ayurveda, Chinese medicine etc. which is based on our entire being, body, soul and spirit' or ultimately to learn to follow your intuition.
As for what constitutes a "scientific option," nutrition is a remarkably young field. Scientists change their mind constantly about what's good, what's bad, and what's essential for the body. Nutrition as a field seldom touches the importance of phytonutrients and dietary carcinogens, either. While it's fine to mention "scientific options," it's best to note that there are many possibilities. The American Dietetics Association, for instance, has finally mentioned that a vegan diet can satisfy all nutritional requirements when properly followed including B12 requirements.
