B12 needs

[Guest guest]

Tim Winders Wednesday, June 08, 2005 11:45 AM [Raw

Food] B12 needs

 

Hello All -

 

My wife is concerned about B12 deficiencies in a raw-vegan diet. She

pointed out this page to me

http://www.breathing.com/articles/vitamin-b12-vegan.htm which has lots of

links to studies (which I have not read) and indicates that someone on a

raw-vegan diet should take B12 supplements, that B12 deficiencies can lead

to mental illness.

 

It seems that this site is trying to scare the reader into purchasing the

supplement they sell, E3Live, http://www.breathing.com/e3live.htm so I am

somewhat biased against the claims. However, the claims are all to external

sites, so I don't know what to think.

 

So, some questions...

 

How should I ensure I am getting adequate B12 in my diet? Is B12 really a

necessary complex? (My wife says it is). If B12 is required and the

primary source of B12 is animals, how were we able to evolve as a species if

our primary diet was fruits?

 

---

 

Tim Winders

Associate Dean of Information Technology

South Plains College

Levelland, TX 79336

_____

Hmmm, thought I'd just posted on this a couple days ago, perhaps it's still

in my Drafts folder. Anyway:

 

1. How should I ensure I am getting adequate B12 in my diet?

 

Eat. In particular, search out farmers that compost in their fields. B-12 is

bacteria poop, the bacteria need nurturing, given the state of agriculture

these days.

 

2. Is B12 really a necessary complex? (My wife says it is).

 

Yes, but in TINY quantities. Also, the body can apparently store at least a

5-6 year supply of B12.

 

3. If B12 is required and the primary source of B12 is animals, how were we

able to evolve as a species if our primary diet was fruits?

 

False assertion. Again, B12 is bacteria poop. By applying pesticide

everywhere (give or take), we have managed to almost wipe out this bacterium

in the US -- an almost incredible " accomplishment. " That's why composting is

important.

 

The only reason some B12 still ends up in cows is that they sometimes pull

up the grass by the roots and end up eating dirt. So if we were to learn

from the cows, we would simply stop washing our fruits so fastidiously. I

rarely wash anything unless it's actually muddy, or for guests if I think

they'll complain. But then more and more my guests are like-minded RFs,

so... . (Of course, if you consider cows an inferior species unworthy of

such attention, you may, or course, choose to learn from a drug or

supplement company instead. :)

 

I don't know what studies your wife has, there are studies these days that

support almost any assertion. But because of the nature of the problem, B12

is now becoming regarding as a systemic problem, not one confined to

vegetarians and/or vegans. And there ARE cases, an increasing number, in

fact, where supplementation is constructive. To date, this is the ONLY form

of supplementation I ever consider with anyone.

 

NOTE: Before using any such supplement, get a REAL lab confirmation. Also,

keep in mind that the recommended level of B12 for humans far exceeds what

we actually require. (As is the case with most of the RDAs/DRIs). If you're

borderline, you're fine, if you get my drift.

 

Best to all,

Elchanan

 

Best to all,

Elchanan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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