Depression is a mental illness of growing global concern, especially in the winter months when people are cooped up indoors and don’t get enough sunlight. According the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 20 Americans over age 12 suffers from moderate to severe depression.
One Vitamin deficiency in particular is becoming increasingly linked to depression. Often called the “energy vitamin,” B12 deficiency is relatively common, especially among adults over age 50. Because your body does not make B12, you must get it from either dietary sources or supplements. However, even if you ingest enough B12 in supplement form to meet RDA requirements, you may still not absorb enough to be effective, especially if you are already deficient.
Health Roles of B12
Vitamin B12 plays many important roles in human health:
- Supports energy production
- Protects the cardiovascular system
- Used to make red blood cells
- Improves bone density
- Protects brain health
- Combats aging
- Regulates mood and improves outlook
As a mood regulator, B12 is closely linked to the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin, a chemical responsible for maintaining mood balance.
Getting Enough B12 to Meet Your Body’s Demands
You cannot get B12 from dietary plant sources. because plants don’t make Vitamin B12. The only food sources of B12 are meat, eggs, poultry, dairy products, and other animal-based products. However, it is difficult for most people to eat enough of those foods to meet their body’s daily B12 demands.
Supplements taken orally may also fail to meet your body’s B12 requirements, because not everything that enters the digestive tract gets absorbed into the bloodstream. In fact, some pills and tablets pass through your digestive system intact, without ever getting broken down.
One way to be sure you are getting enough B12, especially if you are experiencing symptoms of depression like sadness, irritability and fatigue, is to get a weekly Vitamin B12 shot.
When taken as an injection, B12 bypasses your digestive tract and quickly works its way into your bloodstream, where it is carried to cells throughout your body. After a B12 injection, many people report an immediate sense of wellbeing and increased energy.
Vitamin B12 Therapy in NYC
If you live or work in NYC, Advanced Cryo NYC in fashionable SoHo offers B12 therapy in the form of injections, or as part of an IV micronutrient cocktail.
B12 treatments are minimally invasive, and our skilled clinicians will see to your comfort as you relax in our spa-like clinic. While you visit Advanced Cryo NYC, be sure to ask about our growing menu of treatments and therapies for health, youthfulness and beauty.
