6 Powerful Benefits of Vitamin B12 Shots.

One of the main reasons for Vitamin B12 deficiency is due to malabsorption of vitamin B12 in our GI tract. So basically you can be consuming B12 in your diet (or even taking supplements with B12) but not actually absorbing it.

This is why one of the main benefits of taking B12 shots is increased energy levels. By taking a shot you are bypassing the GI tract and allowing for 100% absorption into the body straight into the cells (which is where B12 has its action).

If you are taking Vitamin B12 supplements and not feeling any different than it may be due to a lack of absorption.

#2. Improves your metabolism

Your metabolism represents the number of calories that you burn while at rest and represents around 90-95% of all calories that you burn in any given day.

The problem here is that most of you are walking around with a slower than normal metabolism due to a variety of factors. Low vitamin B12, low mitochondrial energy production, low thyroid hormone, a history of recurrent dieting, etc., have all been shown to slow down your metabolism.

So instead of burning, let’s say, 2,000 calories per day – you may only be burning 1400-1500 calories per day if your metabolism is only functioning at 75% of normal. Obviously with a metabolism that slow it will be VERY difficult to lose any weight.

#3. Helps with weight loss

B12 shots don’t directly result in weight loss but they do in an indirect way. Vitamin B12 shots can help improve your sleep, increase your energy, normalize your metabolism and improve your mood.

ALL of these factors may indirectly influence your ability to lose weight and may explain why people who use vitamin B12 shots usually report some degree of weight loss.

Vitamin B12 shots can also be combined with lipotropic supplements to further help boost weight loss. Lipotropic vitamins and nutrients directly help your body burn fat and break down adipose tissue which results in fat loss.

#4. Increases concentration & mood

Is your mood down? Or are you feeling more “depressed” than usual? You aren’t alone. Depression by itself isn’t a diagnosis but a sign of something else going on in your body.

This may include nutrient deficiencies, high levels of inflammation, lack of exercise, weight gain, etc. No matter how you look at it there are at least 50+ known causes of depression out there.

One of the main, and most well known, is low levels of Vitamin B12.

It has been shown that vitamin B12 can help increase your mood and fight off depression.

#5. Boosts your immune system

Vitamin B12 also plays a critical role in your immune system.

Supplementing with methylcobalamin (not cyanocobalamin) has been shown to restore abnormalities in the CD4/CD8 T cell ratio. These factors are very important for fighting off viruses and bacteria that come into contact with your body.

Changes in this ratio increase your risk for developing certain infections and may reduce the ability of your body to effectively get rid of these infections.

This may result in people who get sick frequently or who stay sick longer than normal.

The exact mechanism of how B12 interacts with the immune system isn’t well understood but it has been shown that low levels impact the body’s ability to fight off various infections.

If you have issues with immunity then it would be worth evaluating your B12 levels to see if they might be contributing.

#6. May increase hair growth or stop hair loss

It turns out that there are several nutrients that required for optimal hair growth and Vitamin B12 happens to be one of them. If you are having issues with hair loss or your hair is thinning then read on.

In order for proper hair growth to continue and be optimal, you need high enough levels of serum Vitamin B12, ferritin and hemoglobin. Deficiencies in any one of these nutrients may result in a reduction in hair growth or even hair loss.

While it is true that many factors (including hormones) influence your hair growth/hair loss, it is worth noting that vitamin B12 plays a special role.

Taking B12 with other supplements to boost hair loss is a great idea and can be very beneficial.