Vitamin B12 and Weight Loss

Maintaining a good balance of essential nutrients and fats in your diet, is perhaps the best way to stay fit and healthy. Moreover, if you want to lose weight, focusing more on vitamins and minerals, than fats could really help. Of course balanced diet has to be complimented by adequate exercise.

One of such vitamins is vitamin B12. Called as the energy vitamin, this vitamin is a real energy booster and works wonders for your vitality and metabolism. There has been a theory pondered over for long that B12 leads to weight loss. But the bone of contention is how far is it true? Is there any speck of reality in that? Here are a few possible explanations about vitamin b12 and weight loss.

Vitamin B12 and Weight Loss
To begin with, this is an extremely rarely tested and scientifically proven. There are contradictory views about whether weight loss and this vitamin are connected. A very few and preliminary tests infer that vitamin b12 might promote weight loss. This is supported by the US office of Dietary Supplements.

Apart from supporting this statement or this inference, this organization also puts forth the fact that one of the symptoms of vitamin b12 deficiency is weight loss. Of course, it is not just that, it is accompanied by other problems. The point here is that even though primary, there is an evidence of connection between the vitamin b12 and weight loss. Another major reason for this inference is the fact that vitamin b12 helps individuals in losing weight by increasing their metabolism. This helps in proper burning of fat, possibly leading to weight loss.

Now, the tricky part here is that a perfectly healthy and a person with a fair amount of physical activity, as it is would not gain weight, even if that person takes vitamin supplements. So that is the first argument which goes against whatever minor evidence exists about vitamin b12 contributing to weight loss. Most of the experts also deny the existence of any evidence which would concretely say that vitamin b12 actually helps in losing weight. However, there are reports which say that those who took vitamin b12 supplements had a lower speed of gaining weight, than those who did not.

To counter this, it is said that as vitamin b12 provides energy, if a person cannot have enough physical activity because of lack of energy, having that vitamin can provide that essential quota of energy. This would ultimately lead to more activity, hence weight loss. But then again, a person who is aware and conscious enough to include vitamin b12 as a supplement to his diet, will also be conscious enough about his or her weight. So again, the argument either for or against are countered at every point. In spite of this, there are some who go for b12 injections or b12 shots. Let's check out what these b12 shots are all about.

Vitamin B12 Shots for Weight Loss
Some people might have this query as to why some of us, who opt for vitamin b12 injections for weight loss instead of supplements? So the first and foremost reason is the method and time, both of these take to reach the system. Supplements take time to be absorbed by the body. There is also a concern regarding its absorption in the body. On the other hand, b12 shots are injected straight into the muscle. That helps better absorption than the oral supplements according to a theory. Vitamin b12 shots are believed to increase the metabolism rate, which in turn helps burn fat and weight loss. Add to that, b12 shots negate the feelings of lethargy and fatigue, giving it an edge over vitamin supplements. While you diet, if you feel that you are not getting enough b12, shots retain your energy and you are less prone to cravings.

However, a thing to be remembered in all this is that these injections have a few side effects too. Although rare, there are vitamin b12 shot side effects like difficulty in breathing, swallowing, increased palpitation and so on. In case you experience these symptoms, inform this to your doctor immediately. Except this, headache and nausea may be experienced, amongst the less serious side effects.

Last, but the not the least, the only scientific evidence proving that vitamin b12 and weight loss are related is the loss of weight as a sign of this vitamin deficiency. Nevertheless, one can go on and get vitamin b12 injections, if he or she believes that it is going to help in losing weight. Finally it is all about believing that a thing can happen. Read more on sources of vitamin B12.

So 'B' positive! Wishing you luck in your endeavor to lose weight!