Eggs are one of the best sources of vitamin B12, said Harvard Medical School. A single medium egg contains 0.4mcg of vitamin B12. You should eat four eggs every day to make up your total recommended amount of B12. Most people that eat meat, fish and dairy products should be able to get enough vitamin B12 in their diet.
Eggs. One hard-boiled egg has about 0.6 micrograms of B12. That's 25% of your daily value.
While eggs are a significant source of vitamin B12, a 2007 study found participants only absorb 9% of the vitamin B12 in eggs compared to 40% to 90% from other animal-based sources. However, the study also found that eating eggs regularly contributed a significant amount of vitamin B12 to participants' diet.
If you're looking to boost the amount of vitamin B12 in your diet, you should eat more animal products, like meat, seafood, dairy and eggs. Fortified breakfast cereals are another great way to get more B12. It is possible that your provider may want you to take a vitamin B12 supplement in addition to your diet change.
Conditions affecting the stomach
Some stomach conditions or stomach operations can prevent the absorption of enough vitamin B12. For example, a gastrectomy, a surgical procedure where part of your stomach is removed, increases your risk of developing a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Low levels of vitamin B12 may be the result of a number of different factors and conditions. One of the most common causes of vitamin B12 deficiency is pernicious anemia, a condition where a person's immune system mistakenly reduces their ability to absorb the vitamin.
This makes eggs the most concentrated source of vitamin B-12 by weight when compared to milk and chicken. Eggs are also good sources of protein, phosphorus and vitamin D. However, they are high in dietary cholesterol, so consume them in moderation.
Milk and milk products are good sources of vitamin B12. Many ready-to-eat breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamin B12. Fish and red meat are excellent sources of vitamin B12. Poultry and eggs also contain vitamin B12.
Animal liver
Beef liver is one of the highest food sources of vitamin B12. A 3 oz. serving of beef liver contains 70.7 mcg, which is nearly 3,000% of the recommended daily value (DV) of vitamin B12. Lamb and veal liver are similarly high in B12, but it is beef liver that is the most nutrient dense.
Eggs. A large egg gives you a portion of high-quality protein plus 0.6 micrograms of this essential vitamin. But forget egg whites only, because the yolk is where B12 thrives. Scramble an egg with veggies, top whole grain toast with one sunny side-up, or shave hard-boiled egg over a salad.
Another fruit that is rich in vitamin B12 is blueberries. It is packed with antioxidants that ensure great health while also supporting your skin's ability to fight inflammation concerning acne, eczema, psoriasis, and premature ageing.
For example, you may have additional blood tests to check for a condition called pernicious anaemia. This is an autoimmune condition (where your immune system produces antibodies to attack healthy cells), which means you're unable to absorb vitamin B12 from the food you eat.
If you eat meat, fish or dairy foods, you should be able to get enough vitamin B12 from your diet. But as vitamin B12 is not found naturally in foods such as fruit, vegetables and grains, vegans may not get enough of it.
If it's only red meat you avoid – or red meat and poultry – you can still get B12 by drinking milk and eating yogurt and eggs. Strict vegetarians who avoid all animal products need to rely on foods fortified with B12 and, in many cases, B12 supplements.
Cyanocobalamin (B12)
B12 is found in animal-based products (such as meat, fish, eggs and milk) and certain fortified cereals. To have a diet high in B vitamins, try to eat a wide variety of fresh unprocessed foods, such as meat and other proteins, dairy, cereals, fruits and vegetables.
Note that organic versions of these products are not fortified with B12. *Many cereals fortified with B12 also contain vitamin D (D3) from lanolin, a substance obtained from sheep's wool. At the time of writing, Weetabix Oatibix Flakes and Weetaflakes both contain B12 and no vitamin D, so are suitable for vegans.
Most people in the United States get enough vitamin B12 from the foods they eat. But some people have trouble absorbing vitamin B12 from food. The body absorbs vitamin B12 from food in a two-step process. First, hydrochloric acid in the stomach separates vitamin B12 from the protein that it's attached to.
There are 13 vitamins the body absolutely needs: vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate). Avocados naturally contain many of these vitamins, and you can start incorporating them into your diet with our avocado recipes.
If you follow a plant-based diet, then vegetables like spinach, beetroot, butternut squash, mushroom and potato contain good amounts of vitamin B12. However, it is less likely to receive the whole amount of nutrients just from vegetable sources.
Regular moderate exercise training decreased plasma folate and increased plasma vitamin B12 levels. However, no significant changes in plasma folate and vitamin B12 concentrations were observed by increasing duration of acute aerobic exercise.
Stress is known to deplete our levels of B vitamins, especially vitamin B12. Vegetarians, vegans and those on restricted diets can struggle to get enough vitamin B12 to meet their body's needs.
Coffee also seems to impact on the metabolism of some B vitamins like thiamine. Vitamin B12, though, looks like being a possible exception – indeed, caffeine's stimulation of stomach acid production may actually assist, instead of compromise, your body's B12 absorption.