| I have been vegan for many years now, and have | | | | are known to be more likely to have a vitamin B12 |
| been forced, like many other vegetarians and | | | | deficiency - this has been known since 1959!" (3). |
| vegans, to deal with the many falsehoods and myths | | | | Studies have shown that those on a SAD |
| surrounding plant-based diets. The first question I | | | | meat-eating diet actually require more B12 than those |
| usually get is "But where do you get your protein?" | | | | eating a plant-based diet (3). As vitamin B12 actually |
| The idea of a vegetarian not getting enough protein | | | | comes from a microbe living on the foods we eat |
| or having to combine proteins has been outdated for | | | | that would be killed when a product is cooked |
| many years! Plant foods are incredibly high in amino | | | | irradiated, then a person eating cooked meat and |
| acids, the building blocks of all proteins. Some plant | | | | ultra pasteurized dairy products will actually be |
| foods, such as hemp seeds, are even complete | | | | consuming very little to no B12, while a raw food |
| proteins and contain the all essential amino acids | | | | vegan, consuming fresh, organic raw produce will |
| needed by humans. The proteins found in meat and | | | | inevitable be consuming higher amounts of B12. |
| dairy products are often indigestible after being | | | | "Animal and dairy produce is a poor source of Vitamin |
| cooked and can sit inside of the intestines and | | | | B12 since they are normally cooked and therefore |
| putrefy. A diet too high in animal proteins can also | | | | the vitamin is contained in nutrient-deranged |
| prevent the absorption and assimilation of necessary | | | | foodstuffs which will inevitably destroy the usability |
| vitamins and minerals, including Calcium (1). It seems | | | | of the vitamin," (2). A raw food vegan, vegan, or |
| paradoxical then, that we are led to believe that | | | | even a vegetarian will also have a much cleaner |
| cow's milk is a good source of calcium. This also | | | | digestive tract than a SAD meat-eater, resulting in |
| explains why the countries with the highest levels of | | | | higher levels of probiotics residing in the intestines and |
| dairy consumption - the United States, Denmark, | | | | increased B12 absorption and reabsorption. |
| Norway, Holland and Sweden - also have the highest | | | | It is also helpful to understand that "vitamin B12 can |
| rates of osteoporosis, bone disease, heart disease, | | | | be destroyed by...highly acid conditions," (4). This |
| and breast cancer while in the countries with the | | | | means that the B12 in meat would be destroyed by |
| lowest dairy consumption, rates of these diseases | | | | the increased levels of hydrochloric acid needed in |
| are much lower (1). | | | | the stomach to digest meat products (4). That is, if |
| The next question I get from people is "What about | | | | the B12 microbes were not already killed by the |
| vitamin B12?" I have to admit, when I first decided to | | | | several rounds of antibiotics given to animals in |
| be vegan, this one got to me a little. So I did some | | | | factory farms. Vegan and raw food vegans, |
| research into vitamin B12 deficiencies, and I was very | | | | especially, generally have a much more balanced |
| surprised with what I found. On the surface, | | | | alkaline internal environment than do SAD |
| everything you find is about vegans and how if you | | | | meat-eaters and vegetarians who consume dairy |
| don't eat any animal products, you won't get any | | | | (both meat and dairy are highly acid forming). |
| B12. But if you look a little deeper (or happen to take | | | | So how can you ensure that your body is getting the |
| a college level anatomy class) you learn a little more | | | | Vitamin B12 it needs? Eat a plant-based diet rich in |
| about B12, what it is, and where it actually comes | | | | raw foods (at least 50%) to ensure proper digestion. |
| from. "Many people say that the only foods which | | | | "It has also been reported that vitamin B12 is present |
| contain vitamin B12 are animal-derived foods. This also | | | | in wild fruits and wild and home-grown plant foods," |
| is untrue. No foods naturally contain vitamin B12 - | | | | (2). Raw food guru and author, David Wolfe, believes |
| neither animal or plant foods. Vitamin B12 is a microbe | | | | that the natural soil microbes and bacteria found on |
| - a bacteria - it is produced by microorganisms," (2). | | | | wild plant foods and unwashed garden plants are |
| So there you have it, you don't have to eat animal | | | | typically adequate to supply our B12 requirements (5). |
| products to get vitamin B12, only have good intestinal | | | | Also, avoid meat, dairy, and gluten containing |
| health, which unfortunately, most Americans are | | | | products which create an acidic internal environment |
| severely lacking. The bacteria that live inside of your | | | | and effectively line the intestinal walls with a thick |
| intestines produce B12, which is then absorbed | | | | layer of mucus, preventing absorption of B12. Buy |
| through your digestive tract. However, this cannot | | | | raw and organic to avoid foods that have been |
| happen if your gastro-intestinal tract is not a | | | | pasteurized, ultra-pasteurized, or irradiated. Include |
| conducive environment to the growth and spread of | | | | nutrient dense algae, such as Spirulina and Marine |
| friendly flora (probiotics)... or if it is clogged with a | | | | Phytoplankton, into your daily diet. Both are part |
| thick, sludgy layer of undigested proteins from meat, | | | | plant, part microbe and may contain vitamin B12. |
| dairy, and gluten-containing wheat products. | | | | Marine phytoplankton also happens to be the original |
| I still wondered how someone like myself, who was | | | | source of omega 3-6-9, is sustainably harvested, and |
| eating a very healthy diet of whole, unprocessed raw | | | | runs no risk of mercury contamination, unlike fish oil. I |
| fruits and vegetables, could in some way be deficient | | | | hope that this has cleared up some of the confusion |
| in any vitamin when compared to a SAD (Standard | | | | regarding a popular vegetarian myth, that of B12 |
| American Diet) meat-eater guzzling french-fries, | | | | deficiency. |
| burgers, and soda. Then I came across this: "The | | | | 1. "Milk, the Deadly Poison", Robert Cohen |
| author does not believe that a vitamin B12 deficiency | | | | 2. 'The Vitamin B12 Issue', Dr. Gena Shaw |
| is more widespread in vegans or vegetarians - this is | | | | 3. 'Fit for Life', Diamond, H. and M., 1987 |
| probably just another marketing lie...In fact, contrary | | | | 4. 'Human Anatomy and Physiology', Marieb |
| to meat and dairy industry propaganda, meat-eaters | | | | 5. |