As we continue November nutrition month with Remember When Homecare, we will talk more about the importance of getting the right vitamins and minerals into our diets. As we age, it is important to take care of your body more than you might have in your youth. There are certain necessary vitamins and minerals that with time, become harder for the body to process or create on its own.
Today we are focusing on the importance of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is stored in the liver and plays a major role in cognitive functioning, amongst other things. The way to know if you have a B12 deficiency is by taking a blood test.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is estimated to affect 10%-15% of people over the age of 60 and presents itself in a variety of ways. It can look and feel like symptoms associated with normal aging but it can exacerbate other conditions such as, cancer, autoimmune disease, Alzheimer's, mental illness such as anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder. Most of the time Vitamin B12 deficiencies go unchecked and can cause memory loss, cognitive decline, foggy brain, decreased mobility, and pain throughout the body.
Here are some benefits to vitamin B12:
Aids with depression and anxiety symptoms
One of the processes Vitamin B12 helps is Serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical in your body that is intimately involved in regulating moods. Low levels of Serotonin are associated with depression.
Sleep-Wake Rhythm Disorder Improvement
Vitamin B12 assists in melatonin production which in turn can help people maintain a regular sleep schedule. Vitamin B12 can help move sleep schedules to the normal rhythm of the day-night cycle.
Help Prevent Alzheimer's and cognitive decline
Just taking Vitamin B12 (or any other B vitamin) supplement will not lower your risk of memory loss. But if you have a Vitamin B12 deficiency, you may be at greater risk for the disease as well as increased memory loss, cognitive decline, and foggy brain.
Some examples with vitamin B12 rich foods include:
Fortified cereals
Eggs
Ham
Chicken breast
Rainbow trout
Beef liver
Cooked Clams
Yogurt
Cheese
Milk
Haddock
Salmon
Our caregivers use some of the following recipes when meal prepping for our clients. We want to ensure that all of our homecare clients are eating a well balanced diet ensuring they are getting all their dietary needs met, while enjoying a tasty meal.
Recipes:
Vegetable Lentil Soup: https://dailyburn.com/life/recipes/vegetable-lentil-soup-recipe/
Easy Steaks: https://www.eatthismuch.com/recipe/nutrition/easy-steaks,36668/
Maple Salmon: https://www.eatthismuch.com/recipe/nutrition/maple-salmon,209061/
Remember When Homecare
Phone: 902.497.0722
E-mail: info@rememberwhenhomecare.com
Website: www.rememberwhenhomecare.com
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