For those of you (us) over a certain age, we know how it feels to be a little more exhausted, a little more ‘meh’, a little more stressed than usual. Because, life.

But, if you’re also struggling to focus, getting headaches more frequently and becoming breathless after a little bit of activity, it could be more than just age management issues. You could have a Vitamin B12 deficiency.

What is Vitamin B12 and why do you need it?

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and well-being. It is the magic ingredient that gives you the energy to do life, helps with the formation of red blood cells, maintains a healthy nervous system and overall cognitive performance. It also helps in the production of healthy skin, hair and nails. In other words, a very important vitamin.

The IV Bar administers a Vitamin B12 known as methylcobalamin;   the most readily absorbed form of Vitamin B12 . This is particularly important for people with methylation conditions and higher homocysteine levels.

How do you know if you have a Vitamin B12 deficiency?

The biggest indicators of Vitamin B12 deficiency are those symptoms that affect your ability to go about a normal day:

  • Persistent lack of energy, even after getting adequate rest.
  • Brain fog and difficulty with memory and focus.
  • Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, poor coordination, and difficulty maintaining balance.
  • Mood imbalances that make you feel like you have whiplash from the ‘to and fro’ of emotions.

What causes a Vitamin B12 deficiency?

  • One reason is older age. Vitamin B12 requires stomach acid for its release from food and its subsequent absorption. As you age, the lining of the stomach gradually loses its ability to produce this acid.
  • Vitamin B12 is produced by the bacteria in the guts of animals and is not found in plant foods. Anyone on a meat-free diet is more likely to suffer from Vitamin B12 deficiency.
  • Digestive issues can also contribute to your body’s ability to absorb B12 nutrients.
  • Other medical conditions such as type 1 diabetes and Crohn’s Disease.

But… there’s hope.

How to make your body work the way it should

Can’t stomach yet another pill? An IV drip is a great way to supplement Vitamin B12 into your body and is one of the most efficient ways of increasing your vitamin B12 levels. When given intravenously, vitamin B12 (methylobalamin)  bypasses your digestive system and is delivered directly into the bloodstream, resulting in quick  and more effective absorption.

Give your body the boost it needs: https://www.theivbar.co.za/our-drips/