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5 Benefits of B12 Shots
As you probably know, vitamins are essential nutrients your body requires to work properly. They aid in various body processes that are crucial to life.
Vitamin B12 is one of the vitamins your body needs to make cells and form DNA. If you're deficient in this vitamin, you usually require supplementation.
Supplements come in both oral forms and injections, so why choose a vitamin B12 shot instead of a pill? Injections work quicker and are more potent because they bypass your digestive system.
At Integrated Body and Medicine, our experienced team offers nutritional supplements and B12 shots. We specialize in holistic and natural remedies for problems like vitamin deficiencies, fatigue, and mental wellness.
The facts about vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that your body uses to produce nerve cells, red blood cells, and critical DNA. When your body doesn't have enough of this essential vitamin, you begin to feel tired and weak.
You can get vitamin B12 through a healthy diet of various food sources. Common foods that are high in vitamin B12 include:
- Dairy products
- Eggs
- Certain types of fish
- Certain types of meat
- Fortified foods
Many people ingest and absorb B12 efficiently and don't require supplementation. But some people don't have enough intrinsic factor, which allows the body to absorb vitamin B12.
People with gastrointestinal issues or post-gastrointestinal surgery may require vitamin B12 injections because their bodies can't absorb it properly.
Common uses of B12 shots
The most common reason to receive a vitamin B12 injection is due to a deficiency. People who are at risk for a B12 deficiency include those with:
- Pernicious anemia
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Certain hereditary disorders
Older adults, vegetarians and vegans, and alcoholics also tend to be deficient in vitamin B12.
If you're at risk for a vitamin B12 deficiency, we evaluate your blood work regularly to check vitamin levels in your body. Although oral supplements are an option, your body doesn’t absorb them completely, so you may not get sufficient amounts.
Vitamin B12 injections benefit those suffering from gastrointestinal system disorders because the injections bypass your GI tract and go right into your bloodstream for immediate use.
More and more clinics nationwide are also using B12 injections in adults without a deficiency but looking to boost their energy and lose weight efficiently.
Five major benefits of B12 injections
Vitamin B12 injections have several advantages over oral supplements in people with or without a deficiency. Here are five of the benefits of vitamin B12 injections.
Improve brain function
If you’re deficient in vitamin B12, you’re at risk for a decline in brain function, including an increased risk for dementia. If you lack vitamin B12, getting injections may improve brain function and fight off problems like dementia.
Fight off depression
Low levels of vitamin B12 in the bloodstream may affect mood and mental health. Vitamin B12 injections help restore the balance of the vitamin and improve mood and depression symptoms.
Boost energy levels
Regular B12 injections help to boost overall energy, possibly due to the increase in red blood cells and oxygenated blood in the body.
Reduce the risk of osteoporosis
Low levels of vitamin B12 may contribute to bone loss, especially as you get older. Osteoporosis is a real threat to bone health, especially if you're deficient. Vitamin B12 injections may decrease your risk of bone loss related to osteoporosis.
Help with weight loss
Regular vitamin B12 injections may aid in weight loss by increasing energy and endurance during exercise, but research is still pending on this topic.
To schedule an appointment with our team to discuss B12 injections, call our office in the greater Highland and Hammond, Indiana, area, or you can request a consultation online.
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