The blood work reveals a deficiency in vitamin B12, which can be attributed to lifestyle factors, age, and certain medications. To combat this, dietary changes are suggested, including the consumption of B12-rich foods and supplements. In some cases, injections may be required. Viewers are invited to share their thoughts and explore other related videos.
Want to learn more? Check out our other videos about Vitamin B12
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Transcript
So your blood work came back saying you’re low in vitamin B12. Now what? How can you get those levels back up? First, we need to take a step back and find out why you’re low in B12. There’s many different reasons people can be B12 deficient, and some of those are simply lifestyle factors. Do you follow a plant-based diet? Are you approaching or over the age of 60, are using medications like metformin, estrogen contraceptive pills, or proton pump inhibitors? All of these could be contributing to your lack of B12. If you said yes to any of those lifestyle factors, try eating more. B12 rich foods like organ meats, red meats, shellfish, sardines, or fortified breakfast cereals, or include a B12 supplement in your daily routine to get those levels back up. Look for the methylcobalamin form for better absorption. A number of medical conditions can also lead to B12 deficiency. For example, a lack of something called intrinsic factor that’s required to absorb B12 for people with these medical conditions or for that particular one. Then B12 injections may be the best and in some cases only way to get your levels back up. If you have any questions or comments about B12, you can put them down below and to learn the truth about some popular myths surrounding vitamin B12. Check out my other videos in this series.