Vitamin B12 and Weight Loss

Posted on 03. Jul, 2009 by Mom Mag in Health

There is lots of different information going around about B12 and whether it can help you lose weight.  It’s hard to distinguish between right and wrong information.  So what’s the truth?  What is B12 and can it help you lose weight?

B12 is a nutrient that we get naturally in our diets.  B12 is one of the nutritients that our bodies need for proper functioning.  Someone with a B12 deficiency will have serious side effects to their body.  Look at it this way, if you are baking a cake you wouldn’t bake it without the flour would you?  Obviously not because when you leave one of the most important ingredients out, the cake just doesn’t turn out right.  Your body is exactly the same.  When your body lacks something as vital as B12 it just won’t work right.  This vital nutrient lets your body operate more effectively and efficiently which in the long run allows you to lose weight because it improves your overall health.

Another great thing about B12 is the energy boost it gives your body.  This obviously won’t take off the pounds itself, but it gives you the motivation to get up and moving.  And when we get up and move we know what the natural reaction to that is – weight loss.

Another weight loss helper is your metabolism and B12 boosts it.  What exactly happens when you have a boost in your metabolism?  Well you digest food faster and will burn more calories just sitting there.  And basic science tells us that the more calories you burn, the fewer calories you store as fat.  And when you increase your exercise level that will also give your metabolism an extra boost!

B12 shots tend to be on the pricey shot, about $65 a pop!  Our bodies all have B12 from the foods we eat so a shot isn’t necessarily the route to take.  In fact you can get more B12 in your system simply by adding it to your diet.  Start eating more things like salmon, trout, liver and clams which are high in B12.

As mentioned earlier, there is a lot of information out there regarding B12 and there are scientists that claim it’s not effective.  But there are thousands of people out there that say it helped them lose weight.  There is no magical pill or cure to losing weight, it’s determined by how hard you work at it.  But, B12 if combined with diet and exercise could just be that extra boost that your body needs to shed those extra pounds!

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26 Responses to “Vitamin B12 and Weight Loss”

  1. Barry McDonald

    05. Nov, 2007

    Hi,
    Its always the way the scientist and pharmacists always put down natural methods when there isn’t a way that they can make money out of it.

  2. Scott Soloff

    07. Nov, 2007

    Everything said here is true, but… I think that it may be better to
    get your b12 from vegetable quality sources. B12 can be found
    in fermented soy products, seaweeds, and algae such as spirulina
    and blue green algae. I think that getting vitamins from animal
    quality products just makes our bodies lazy and consequently
    weaker. Just a thought.

  3. Chamika Sutton

    05. Dec, 2007

    B 12 has helped me lose weight. I have lost 15lbs in about 2 months while taking B 12. I also walk a mile a day for my exercise. I take the vitamin once a day. The vitamin can be bought at your local GNC store.

  4. Robert Neil

    19. Dec, 2007

    Scott is right about Spirulina – it is an excellent source of B12, as well as Amino Acids and B Complex Vitamins. My wife took Spirulina right through her pregnancy and while breast feeding. My daughter, who is now 13, has taken Spirulina since she was 6 months old. So, it is totally safe. But make sure it is Organic as this is the best quality.
    Hope this helps.
    Kind Regards,
    Robert
    Spirulina

  5. Logo Designers

    17. Mar, 2008

    My fiancee and I have a consultation with a doctor for b12 shots tommorrow – the goal is weight loss (this appointment is for a woman; I’m going for emotional support) She has a thyroid issue; dont know if that comlicates things…..some ppl say b12 has no effect on weight loss, some ppl say it works wonders…i’m wondering what is a realistic goal for losing weight when combined with reasonable diet and exercise?

  6. Jessica Diets

    27. Mar, 2008

    With the b12 shots I lost alot of weight, I will tell anyone to take them and I had alot energy to work out.

  7. Debbie

    01. Apr, 2008

    Great weight loss motivation tip. It is always easier to stick to the healthy meal plan if one’s energy is up. We recommend getting as much of the 3 important B vitamins form raw foods as possible and supplementing the rest.

    Debbie
    Las Vegas, NV

  8. charlotte

    15. Sep, 2008

    i am thinking about getting the b12 shots to help me get some engery so i can work out alot more wondering dose the shot help in way and is it safe to take.

  9. Haylee

    19. Oct, 2008

    I have taken the the B12 shots since July 3, 2008, I have lost 32 pounds so far.
    I have more energy, my skin looks and feels better.
    Taking the shot does not work alone! You have to work at it also, you have to eat right and exercise, or else youre wasting your time and money.

    The shot works great.

  10. WeightLoss Coach

    07. Feb, 2009

    I’m trying to have weight loss, maybe will give this a shot as I tried others before that won’t gave me much effect..just hope this might help me alot.

    WeightLoss Coachs last blog post..Lose Fat Without Changing Your Diet

  11. Inspirational Chris

    11. Feb, 2009

    Hmm, I am not so sure it’s smart to focus that much on B12 if you want to lose weight. It has the effect that it increases the appetite. For instance, many bodybuilders are using it to manage the big food consumtion. But there may be pros and cons. Just a thought.

  12. Weight Loss Diet Blog

    19. Feb, 2009

    I certainly believe with good motivation basically anything can be achieved. Especially weight loss. Pounds and pounds can be shredded off with some hard work and motivation. as the article mentioned, Vitamin B12 boosts your metabolism and in turn your motivated to do more and more. that’s how I believe Vitamin B12 helps you reduce weight. Nice article. Cheers

  13. I haven’t seen a lot regarding B12 and weight loss but I have had many people tell me that it definitely gives them energy. My mother has sworn by them for years.

    best weight loss programss last blog post..Fat Burning Furnace

  14. Name (required)

    25. Feb, 2009

    B-12 is powerful. When taken in the right amounts. If a person is vastly overweight, and in need of a boost of energy to allow them to work out then this vitamin is a must.

    Name (required)s last blog post..Is Brown Rice Bad for You?

  15. Acai Cleanse

    25. Feb, 2009

    I have not heard much about B12 relating to weight loss…but this is very useful information you provided…thnks for that…

    I took acai berry to loose weight and it helped me a lot….I believe both Vitamin B12 and Vitamin C helps to loose weight quite a lot….

    :)

  16. menopause weight loss

    28. Feb, 2009

    In addition to helping with weight loss, vitamin B12 and menopause go well together because B12 can help give you energy and help the nervous system.

    menopause weight losss last blog post..Menopause Weight Loss- Healthy Weight Solutions- Stop Weight Gain

  17. Fat Loss 4 Idiots

    05. Mar, 2009

    I’ve been taking B12 for some memory loss problems a few years back. I didn’t know much about losing weight with B12. Thanks for sharing this article!

    Evelina

  18. Chicago Realtor

    20. Apr, 2009

    I thought B12 is helping with the eye only, I only takes the multi vitamins if I remember, now I will try to get a bottle of B12 and try it out! Thanks for sharing!

    Chicago Realtors last blog post..Buildings Along North Harbor Drive, Chicago

  19. Dofollow

    24. Apr, 2009

    I agree, vitamin B12 is used in many “natural fat loss pills”. I might be wrong, but B12 is something like acid.

  20. NYC

    30. Apr, 2009

    Another interesting article from your blog :) When will it stop….hopefully never

  21. Daytona Beach Movers

    04. May, 2009

    B12 is good for health in general. It provides energy for the body. Spirulina is also a good source for B12.

  22. holsitic Weights

    05. May, 2009

    I never really considered the role B12 has in weight loss. I always assumed being on a diet, that is restricting your intake and excerising, which increases your cal usage results in weight loss

  23. Phil

    06. May, 2009

    I thought that B12 is a fish oil. Anyway, thanks for sharing this valuable information with us.

  24. Nancy Morino

    09. May, 2009

    B12 can be found in good quantity in milk and other dairy products, and certainly in can affect weight loss in other ways too, as it is an important vitamin for maintaining a good level of energy for the body.

    Nancy Morinos last blog post..Bachelor (BA) in Culinary Arts

  25. Weight Lose Pounds

    18. May, 2009

    Acai Berry is also a good natural way of having a weight lose. Lose pounds and feel healthy again. Acai Berries are genuine from Brazil.

  26. Candy

    21. May, 2009

    I suffer from Crohns Disease and have had the ilium which absorbs B12 from foods removed. So I am left taking B12 injections for the rest of my life. Without the injections I get extremely tired and I am off balance and stumble alot. Soon after taking my shot, I feel the effects with in a few hours. I can say that without my shots I would not be able to keep up with my boys and keep my house like I do.

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