I would like to encourage you to make sure you use "an ounce of prevention", to avoid the "pound of cure" that many have to take, from their poor habits. As someone once said to me, it's not so much what you do eat, but what you don't eat, that gets you in real trouble. So, in this article, I will explain the most common health problems from a lack of vitamin B, the risks of not getting vitamin B12 specifically, and what can hinder us from absorbing them.

Some of the signs that you may be deficient in vitamin B are, acne, bad breath, high cholesterol, poor circulation, constipation, depression, digestive disturbances, and fatigue. Vitamin B contributes to the health of our body's cells, intestinal tract, nervous system, liver, hair and skin, so as you can see, it is an essential part of good health. There have been studies of even health conscious people coming up short where Vitamin B is concerned, so, be sure you're not lacking here.

Some of the "anti-vitamin B's" are alcohol, antibiotics, coffee, infections, oral contraceptives, sleeping pills, stress, sugar excess, and sulfa drugs. Sometimes the absence of certain B vitamins inhibits our absorption of the other B vitamins.

There have been studies proving the absence of vitamin B 12 in a vegetarian/vegan diet, but there is an excellent article on this topic written by a Michal Donaldson, Phd on the Hallelujah Acres website. He basically states that the deficiency can cause serious neurological problems, in adults and children, and explains the mistake of leaning on seaweed products, or Barleygreen, to correct the deficiency. There is a supplement they provide for those interested.

In a perfect world (the garden of Eden), man was on a raw food diet, and it was enough. After the flood, man began to eat meat along with the raw foods, Genesis 9:3, as God told us we could. I think maybe because there was something missing, probably this vitamin B 12. When we refuse to do what God suggests, it can cost us. This is a hard word for vegetarians, vegans, and raw foodists. However, the facts are the facts. If you want to remain vegetarian, I understand. Just be aware of the facts, and supplement yourself and your children.

The rest of the population, which is most of the population, suffer from a lack of vitamin B, and also many other nutrients: fiber, calcium, to name a couple, and it is you to whom I speak now. Don't let a vitamin B12 deficiency scare you off from increasing your intake of raw foods, for far more are the deficiencies suffered from eating lots of meat (and sugar, and coffee, and etc.).

Lastly, the natural sources for B 12 are: fish, some meat, and milk products. Vitamin B complex is available in broccoli, brewers yeast, cabbage, cauliflower, and dried beans, to name a few. For a complete list, see my vitamin B charts.

To your good health this season.