[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

Heme iron comes from animal products, whereas, non-heme iron is found in plants.

The human body regulates non-heme iron absorption, keeping us safe from the ill effects of iron overload.

Great information! A plus for vegans/vegetarians.

Heme iron is less easily regulated, and as such, can be problematic as it is absorbed faster, and in higher quantities, than non-heme iron.

Excess iron is one of the culprits behind several degenerative diseases, including, but not limited to, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

[Also] Iron accumulates in the brain as people age and is often implicated in neurodegenerative disease as a result.

I was wondering what this has to do with B12, but now I think I understand: If one relies on eating a lot of meat to get their B12, they put themselves at risk for lots of degenerative diseases as they age. Very good point.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

If your thyroid is "low" I recommend seeing Dr. Hamilton Fish in Leesburg. He is an excellent endocrinologist with a very good curriculum vitae.

Thankfully, my thyroid is not underactive anymore because I fixed it myself, no thanks to my doctor. If I had relied solely on doctors, I would be taking medication for the rest of my life.

[Villages PL]

I bought some Nutritional Yeast Flakes this morning at Lake Nutrition. They reassured me that the product is all natural. But what I have discovered is that the only reason it contains B12 is because they fortify it with Cyanocobalamin, the synthetic form of B12. And it's fortified with other B vitamins that I don't need or want.

One good thing about it is that the dosage of B12 is low. The Kal brand was 10 micrograms per rounded tablespoon. And I believe the NOW brand I bought should be about the same.

This has been a learning experience: Essentially, eating Nutritional Yeast Flakes is like taking a B-complex-multi-vitamin. It may be good for some people but I don't think it suits my needs.

I guess I need to do more reasearch to find out what other products are available online.

[Villages PL]

As I said, I bought the Nutritional Yeast on Thursday morning, which was a bad decision on my part. By evening I put it out with the garbage.

Then I remembered that I had a 2012 catalogue from Puritan's Pride. Someone gave it to me and I never ordered anything from it. So I looked to see if they had any low dosage B12 tablets. And to my surprise they had 100 microgram B12 tablets. The only drawback is that it was the synthetic B12.

I got on the phone and called the Publix pharmacy and the pharmacist informed me that there has never been any warnings about ill effects from synthetic B12. And he thought that taking a low dosage would be a wise choice.

I then called Puritan's Pride and they are going to send me a new catalogue to order from. The price on the 100mcg tablets has since gone up a little but is still very reasonable.

All's well that ends well.

[shcisamax]

Well PL this has been a very interesting thread. I have learned much about the B12 that I have been taking. I also never made the connection between non heme and heme iron with B12. Thanks for starting this thread.

Sorry Lake didn't have anything that fit the bill. If they don't have something, they usually (Debbie) can tell me where to go for it.

[lightworker888]

VPL, check out Swanson Health Products online. I find their products to be well researched well formulated and very cost efficient. They will also be able to give you info on the phone. That is my first go to place for supplements.

LW888

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by lightworker888

VPL, check out Swanson Health Products online. I find their products to be well researched well formulated and very cost efficient. They will also be able to give you info on the phone. That is my first go to place for supplements.

LW888

I'm still waiting to get my new vitamin catalogue from Puritan's Pride, so I'll check it out while I'm waiting.

Thanks

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by shcisamax

Well PL this has been a very interesting thread. I have learned much about the B12 that I have been taking. I also never made the connection between non heme and heme iron with B12. Thanks for starting this thread.

Sorry Lake didn't have anything that fit the bill. If they don't have something, they usually (Debbie) can tell me where to go for it.

Glad you found it interesting and informative; I did too. I'm either learning something new or relearning something I read about and forgot. I seem to remember reading something about non heme iron and heme iron in the past but I forgot and started thinking that all iron is the same. Thanks to Senior Citizen, I got some valuable information just when I needed it. I was beginning to wonder if certain plant foods, higher in iron, like lentils, might be harmful. Now that's one less thing to worry about.

Red meat also contains copper and that too is worrisome for older people as it carries a risk, as iron does, for dementia.

When I went to Lake Nutrition, I didn't remember to ask for Debbie, I talked to someone who didn't seem to be very familiar with B12. Then, in my confusion, I bought something that was totally wrong for my needs. In other words, I bought on impulse. So I threw it out that same day and I have only myself to blame.

[shcisamax]

Always ask for Debbie...or just say the owner if you can't remember her hame. She knows faaaaaarrrrrr more than anyone else.