Stylist: B12 benefits: how vitamin B helps your mental health, according to a food psychologist
“…Scientists have proven that we can feed our gut to elicit full-body effects. Some well-established ways of doing that are by eating fibrous foods that produce serotonin, and fermented probiotics to support the microbiome diversity that impacts immunity and mood.”
“...There’s another crucial nutrient for your brain as well as your body, and that’s vitamin B. Vitamin B is divided into eight compounds, each with unique brain benefits. But it’s B12, nicknamed the energy vitamin, that’s got a huge role to play in our psychological health.
“...one of the main signs of vitamin B deficiency is fatigue, lethargy and not really having the energy to do anything,” explains Kimberley Wilson, a food psychologist. This makes for an interesting overlap with mental health: “Of course, a couple of the symptoms of depression are a loss of interest in things and a loss of energy. It can therefore work in both directions. Maybe someone is depressed for other reasons and it leads to those features or sometimes there’s a deficiency which causes depression by bringing on those symptoms.”
“Vitamin B is also responsible for the reactions that make our brain function the way it does. “They are essential elements required for enzyme reactions. So, in order for an enzyme to be able to do what it does, it almost needs a ‘backup’ of B vitamins,” explains Kimberley.”
“In the case of mental health, they help with the release of serotonin, dopamine, GABA, noradrenaline, melatonin – all the neurotransmitters which can affect our mood and mental health. B12 is also particularly important in long term brain health too, helping to fight off degenerative diseases.”
Read the full article here.
#MentalHealth #Vitamins #Neurotransmitters
My take:
Coming across this article reminded me of why I started drinking nutritional protein shakes for breakfast. Not only have they provided me with an easy way to get the caloric intake I need to get started, but they are full of nutrients (such as B12) that my body needs. And ever since I started taking better care of my health a few years ago, I’ve been keenly aware of what I put into my body as well as how my body itself responds.
A question for you all:
In your own lives, what ways do you make sure that your bodies get the nutrients that they need (such as Vitamin B12)?
I try to eat everything there's in the market. But, it's very random right now. The food and the mood for food. I have some supplements also.
I'm kinda focused on magnesium right now.
@Fluxelixir
I definitely get that. I take magnesium myself as well and I have a friend who takes several supplements for his health.
As far as food goes, the older I get the more I realize that what I put into my body really does directly affect how it feels. So to this end, I really do try to eat a balanced diet that meets my nutritional needs.
I actually don't get all that I need. It seems like anytime I'm tested there is some nutritional deficiency. I do make use of supplements plus try to include things that are rich in the things that seem to lack but I can't seem to get to the right balance. Chronic issues and at times some medications can make hitting the right balance really difficult.
COVID has made that worse as testing is less frequent and it's harder to access doctors.
@AffyAvo
For what it's worth, in my own situation I also I get how chronic health issues and medications can add complications to just feeling our best everyday. I've had to really good at listening to my body for when and how much I should eat. Among other things and for other reasons, taking care of my body has really turned into a full-time job in itself. And while I didn't see this coming, it is the body I'm in, so I guess I'll take care of it. :)
@sereneSunset26
That’s a huge question that I could write a book in answer to.
I have fortified nutritional yeast I sprinkle on whatever or make a cheese sauce out of using cashews, garlic, salt, olive oil, lemon and water.
I have a morning and evening routine that includes skin care, oral and body hygiene, journaling and drinking water.
I using a gratitude journal (see below) and the 5 minute journal from the company ‘intelligent change’ (app and hardcover available - have put out one for kids too).
Like I said I couldn’t write a book on it in this post. There’s so much more to it. Chapters upon chapters upon chapters. Tips and tricks and hacks are drops in the ocean of change.
@Dallady
Thank you so much for sharing! I am so impressed by the extent that you practice your own self-care of your body. In my experience, I have realized that taking care of ourselves equally affects our physical as well as our mental health. At first, it was just the physical effects on my body that seemed most noticeable, but as I've aged, it really seems to be as much of a boon for my mental health as well.
You’re very welcome, and thank you! Seeing mental health as important is very insightful and understanding. Yay
@sereneSunset26
@Dallady
It really is!! The older I've gotten, the more I've realized that mental health is easily just as important as our physical. And that the two are really interconnected as well.
@Dallady
I just wanted to say that your journal looks so awesome!! :)
Thank you! 😀
@sereneSunset26
@Dallady
How long have you been keeping/writing in the journal? :)
Weeell if you mean the journal in the image, I have filled about 20 of the pages!
As for doing 5 Minute Journal, I’ve been doing that for about eight years.
Thanks for asking, do you have any more questions? 😊 😊 😊
@sereneSunset26
@Dallady
I do actually!! :)
What keeps you in the habit of that level of self-care, especially with regard to drinking water and consistently journaling?
@Dallady
Thank you for sharing this, Dallady. It is very useful!
Your welcome! 😀
@globalBraid3744
@sereneSunset26 I really try to eat well, but sometimes it doesn't go as well as I would like 😅 I like to take vitamins and I especially like to buy protein shakes with all the good stuff in them!!
@fruityPond7887
I totally know what you mean with protein shakes. As soon as I discovered them five years ago, they became a staple of my breakfasts--every single morning. 😅
@sereneSunset26 They're soooo delicious but I need to buy them in bulk because buying them individually is expensiveeeee!😩
@fruityPond7887
Yep!! That is a lesson that I learned for myself as well, haha. :)
@sereneSunset26
I take vitamins and supplements including super B complex and Hair, Skin, and Nails, which is a combination of various vitamin Bs.
@purpleTree4652
That is quite the eclectic combination there - have you noticed the positive effects of vitamin B in your life in all of those areas?
@sereneSunset26
Yes
@purpleTree4652
That's awesome!!
If you don't mind me asking further, in what specific ways have you noticed all those benefits? :)
@sereneSunset26
When I first started taking vitamin B, it felt like a rain gauge filling up. What it was filling up with, I'm not sure. But I have a lot of energy. And I also have healthy nails, skin, and hair. My skin heals quickly. My blood pressure is healthy. I don't get sick with colds or flus often. My mood is also lifted.
@purpleTree4652
My goodness, that is awesome!! Almost sounds like Vitamin B has been something of a panacea for you that way in your life. Goes without saying, but (as you know) our quality of life is tied so much to our health. :)
Am a big believer in food as medicine. Now obviously food cannot treat lots of conditions or literally replace scientifically designed medication (e.g. chemotherapy). But making deliberate and informed decisions relating to food and drink - such as more fruit and vegetables, less processed food, supplements that tackles any specific gaps you have - very often helps the situation and can make you feel better.
For example, my mum suffered with bad migraines for many years. Then she deliberately A/B tested every aspect of her diet to eventually identify that lactose was a big cause of her migraines! With reduced lactose, her migraines are far less often now :)
@GreenWoods I had the same thing happen to me! I used to get these horrific migraines that would cause me to get sick and I went to the doctor's and eventually I realized that caffeine was the root of it. I had to stop drinking iced tea and caffeinated coffee, but honestly it's probably better for me (especially no soda). I do miss iced tea, but luckily Starbucks can still make decaf coffee!
@fruityPond7887
I do find it a bit prescient that I came across this post, haha. Because, while I've never been that big of a caffeine consumer in my life, I have started to notice the tell-tale caffeine headaches. There's a caffeine pill/supplement that I've had as my "break glass in case of emergency" fall back, and recently, I'd started to take it a bit more often. Turns out, that was far too often for my body--hence those headaches. So I've backed off it a bit and so have the headaches. 😂
@GreenWoods
I 100% agree; what we put into our bodies directly affects how we feel on a daily basis--it took me way too long to realize this for myself, but I'm glad I did.
I've been fortunate enough not to have too many issues with food, but I have come across foods that I don't digest as well, so that's been something for me to keep in mind.
im a little confused by the article, it didnt say anything about Vitamin C (according to https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/vitamin-b12-side-effects#side-effects vitamin C actually slows down the absorption of b12, so you need even more)
and it didn't mention any of the side effects of having too much b12
@withdrawn
Your confusion would be the result of a typo on my end. It should have said Vitamin 'B' on the topic title instead. :)
@sereneSunset26 Changed! 😊
@AffyAvo
Thank you!!