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SYMPTOMS & AYURVEDIC REMEDIES
B12 DEFICIENCY (Pernicious Anemia)WHAT DOES IT MEAN? WHAT'S CAUSING IT? WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Written by John Immel,
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Written by John Immel,
Are you prone to a problem with 'B12 Deficiency'?
The body stores between 2-5mg of vitamin B12, about 3-5 years worth. Most of this vitamin B12 is stored in the liver (approx 50%). Some vitamin B12 is secreted by the liver each day in bile, and then reabsorbed in the small intestines. Approximately .1% of vitamin B12 is lost each day through malabsorption. Pregnancy can deplete vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 deficiency causes pernicious anemia mainly due to inability to synthesize DNA. Historically, the disorder was called 'pernicious' because a diagnosis was often fatal. In modern times, the disease is often diagnosed before the illness develops. Vitamin B12 deficiency also damages nerves, leading to absent reflexes, diminished touch sensation, dementia, depression and other neural degenerative disorders. You may also experience fatigue, depression and poor memory. Sources of Vitamin B12All Vitamin B12 is manufactured by bacteria, making yogurt, sauerkraut and other fermented foods good sources of vitamin B12. However, the highest concentrations or dietary vitamin B12 is normally found in animal based food products, especially liver, meat and fish. Higher concentrations, to a lesser degree, are found in eggs and dairy.B12 Deficiency & VegetariansB12 deficiency was as high as 92% in vegans according to one German study. Roughly 2/3's of vegetarians are B12 deficient, and only 5% of meat eaters. Children of vegetarians are particularly at risk, since they store less of the vitamin.Stomach Disorders & Vitamin B12 Maldigestion Stomach acids and pepsin free vitamin B12 bound to proteins, making it available for use. Antacids block this process, and may be a leading cause of B12 deficiency among carniverous adults.
Free vitamin B12 is then bound to haptocorrin secreted in saliva and the stomach. In the less acidic environment of the small intestine, pancreatic proteases degrade haptocorrin. Vitamin B12 then binds to intrinsic factor, produced in the stomach. Atrophic gastritis, auto-immune disorders, gastric bypass surgery, and other stomach disorders can affect the stomach's ability to produce acids, pepsin, and intrinsic factor. In patients with pancreatic insufficiency, enzyme deficiency may fail to liberate vitamin B12 from haptocorrin, and prevent B12 from binding with intrinsic factor. Vitamin B12 MalabsorptionFinally, brush border receptors for intrinsic factor absorb vitamin B12 in the terminal ileum. Diseases affecting absorption in the terminal ileum such Crohn's & Short Bowel Syndrome reduce absorption of vitamin B12. Alcohol can interfere with vitamin b12 absorption.Disclaimer: Conditions such as 'B12 Deficiency' that cause tissue changes could be serious and should be checked by a medical doctor.
WHAT HAS HELPED YOU HEAL?DIET REMEDIES FOR 'B12 DEFICIENCY'MeatsBeef ,  How does Beef affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. Chicken , How does Chicken affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. Chicken Livers , How does Chicken Livers affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. Fish , How does Fish affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. Pork How does Pork affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. DairyCheddar Cheese , How does Cheddar Cheese affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. Yogurt How does Yogurt affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. FermentsKefir , How does Kefir affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. Sauerkraut , How does Sauerkraut affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. Yeast How does Yeast affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. HERBS & PRODUCTS FOR 'B12 DEFICIENCY'BLOOD AND CIRCULATION TIPS DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat a medical condition. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine. HOW DOES AYURVEDA HEAL 'B12 DEFICIENCY'?AVOID DIETS, LIFESTYLES & HERBS THAT AGGRAVATE THESE EFFECTSAccording to Ayurveda, one or more of the following doshas and qualities may aggravate 'B12 Deficiency'. If you have an excess of one of these doshas or qualities below, Ayurveda recommends reducing foods and lifestyle habits that aggravate them. Click on the quality to learn what foods and lifestyle habits should be reduced. Symptoms Tell A Story The first step to healing is learning patterns from your symptoms. Symptoms are clues that reveal underlying imbalances. Symptoms show you where your body is weakened. Ultimately, all disease has a root in tissues too weak to defend itself. Ayurveda describes these patterns of weakness using doshas & qualities. If you notice a quality or dosha appears next to many of your symptoms, it helps you establish a pattern that may be systemic.V = VATA, P = PITTA, K = KAPHA  To learn more about the symbols above, click on them. Are you prone to a problem with 'B12 Deficiency'?
FAVOR DIETS, LIFESTYLES & HERBS WITH THESE MEDICINAL EFFECTSEverything you eat has an effect on your body, which Ayurveda categorizes in a simple and easy way, using gunas. Gunas are qualities (like cold and hot) that describe the effect a food or herb has on your body. Cooling foods like cucumber, decrease metabolism. Heating foods like chili pepper, stimulate your body and increase metabolism. For 'B12 Deficiency', you should select foods with the following qualities (gunas). Individual results will vary, based on your body type and the root cause of your imbalance.
To learn more about the symbols above, click on them. ADDRESS ISSUES IN STAGE OF DISEASE 3B12 DEFICIENCY IS IN STAGE OF DISEASE 3 - ATTACKING TISSUEIf you have symptoms in this category it means that your imbalances are becoming stronger and weakening your body's resistance. Most people have a weakness in one or more organs. These areas of weakness are the 'weak link in the chain.' They are first to succumb when an imbalance reaches a tipping point. Repairing imbalances in this category often represent your last opportunity to prevent disease. At any moment, these imbalances could overwhelm weakened tissue and develop into a disease. You may feel pain or discomfort in the weakened area. At this stage you will need to support the weakened tissue with specialized foods and herbs for the weakened tissue. REDUCE THESE RELATED SYMPTOMS & HABITSThe following symptoms & habits may be related to 'B12 Deficiency'. See your quiz results for a computerized assessment of your body type. Please click on the symptoms below to learn more about them.
DO YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR UNIQUE BODY?What aggravates it? What heals it?
Then get your Personal Ayurvedic Body Book!
This book, written by founder and director of Joyful Belly, John Immel,
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HOW AYURVEDA WORKS
ARE YOU WONDERING HOW AYURVEDA CAN HELP YOU?
WHY IS AYURVEDA THE RIGHT SOLUTION?Ayurveda strengthens the body, in addition to addressing the disorder. It take a holistic, systemic approach, instead of myopically focusing on the disorder in question. Ayurveda shows a person how to interpret signs and symptoms of imbalance, and how to address them using materials from home, so they can optimize their health on a continual basis. You can't take the doctor home with you, but you can take Ayurveda home with you. Ayurveda is the most advanced and easy to use home system for self healing with an exceptional focus on digestion.HOW DOES AYURVEDA WORK?Ayurveda starts by identifying your body type, which identifies certain tendencies in your body to get sick (as well as identifying your strengths). It uses body type to determine the likely root causes of your disorders. Next, Ayurveda analyzes the nature of your disorder. It fits all your signs and symptoms into a pattern, expressed as a combination of gunas / qualities. For example, you may have a heat disorder, a cold disorder, or an oily disorder, etc. This simple categorical approach shows you how to correct systemic imbalances and strengthen your body as a whole.On Joyful Belly, we've created an extensive categorization of food so you can easily match food to your imbalances (gunas). By eating an optimal diet that balances your gunas, your whole body is strengthened and the conditions that created the disorder are removed. Once the root causes of the disease are removed, the disease lessens in strength or disappears altogether. Additional remedies - such as herbs and lifestyle practices - focused on the specific disorder, can greatly enhance your healing. Want to learn more about Ayurveda and its step-by-step approach to healing? Click below.LEARN MOREGET STARTEDTo get started on your Ayurvedic journey, we first recommend that your find your body type by taking our free quiz. In Ayurveda, every solution is based on your unique body type, so by taking this quiz, you’ll get the best results.5 WAYS TO HEAL YOUR BODY
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