B12 is a water soluble vitamin required by our body for many vital functions, such as the production of healthy red blood cells and proper neurological function.
Our daily requirement of vitamin B12 is 2, 4 micrograms.
Vegans, as well as omnivores, are at risk of B12 deficiency. Animal products contain B12 therefore, vegans and vegetarians run a risk of B12 deficiency, but the process of absorbing B12 from animal products is also very complex, and hence people who eat meat are at equal risk for B12 deficiency.
If vegans plan to stay with this lifestyle for the long term, then they need to take a vegan B12 supplement.
At the moment, no plant sources are considered as sustainable sources of B12 vitamin.
A study showed that this vitamin is largely missing from the vegan lifestyle and can cause problems.
How Vegans Can Get Safe B12 Vitamin In Their Diet:
Vegans can get B12 naturally by consuming products fortified with B12, such as certain brands of soy milk and almond milk that have been fortified.
And they can also get it from supplements.
Here is a list of best options for vegans for a B12 supplement.
1. Livewell Vegan B12.
The B12 from this supplement gives an excellent metabolic and nervous system support. This product has a lot of benefits, such as mood and memory improvement and energy. It also supports the function of the immune system.
2. Transparent Labs Vitamin B Complex.
RawSeries Vitamin B Complex helps regulate your energy levels and maintains our overall health as it contains multiple B vitamins. This is important for vegans and vegetarians who lack these essential nutrients. This product also contains some extra ingredients which include choline, vitamin C and inositol.
3. Vegan Safe B12.
This is a 100% vegan B12 supplement which contains 80% methylcobalamin and 20% adenosylcobalamin, these are two kinds of vegan B12 which are highly bioactive, this means that the body can extract and absorb their nutrients more easily.
4. Jarrow Formulas Methyl B12.
This vegan B12 supplement contains methylcobalamin, which is the most bioavailable form of vitamin B12. It comes in chewable vitamins that have a nice cherry flavor. Methylcobalamin is better absorbed and retained by the body than other forms of B12. Methyl B12 supports the nerve tissue and brain cells, it promotes better sleep and converts the homocysteine, an oxidizing metabolite, back into amino acid methionine.
5. Garden Of Life B12 Vitamin.
This is a spray type supplement and is fortified with methylcobalamin, which allows you to consume 500mcg of B12 in a single spray. It helps in supporting energy, heart health, and metabolism.
6. Nature’s Bounty.
This product contains B12 in cyanocobalamin, which is one of the well researched B12 vegan resources. It does not contain any artificial ingredient and can easily be swallowed or dissolved in a hot drink to avoid the taste. It offers a convenient way to increase the intake of an essential vitamin, which plays a key role in many functions, including the nervous system. They are easy to swallow and are gluten free.