A very large part of our aging population is walking around with a lack of 2 very important vitamins. If you are in your 60s or older you need to have these levels checked right away. It's a simple blood test to check.
When reviewing 1,000 blood samples of people 65-93, over half were lacking in B12 and Vit D, in a study published by the journal, Nutrients.
Lack of these important nutrients can lead to depression, memory issues, high blood pressure, bone pain, weakness, constipation, loss of appetite, immune problems, weight loss, numbness, tingling sensations, gait changes and fatigue issues.
We are prone to Vit D loss as we age because we do not convert sunlight into the proper form of VIt D in our skin as we get older.
We are prone to B12 issues because we do not make enough acid in our stomachs to absorb it as we age.
I suggest to my patients that they take a sublingual B12 to get full benefits, a B complex is never enough. When it goes under your tongue, you do not have to worry about it being absorbed in your gut. Foods high in B12 are salmon, liver, clams and dairy, but it is very hard to get all you need from food.
For Vit D, I suggest 5,000 IU a day of Vit D3 and getting out in the sun for 10-20 minutes a day whenever possible. Food sources are liver, fatty fish, egg yolk and fish oils. Again, hard to get all you need from food.
These levels can also be low in younger people as well, so I suggest everyone get checked.
I routinely run these tests with all the lab work I run. A simple blood test could make all the difference in how you feel as you age. Get checked!!
Comments