Depression and Anxiety could be due to lack of micronutrients; B12.

Did you know that our ability to absorb vitamin B12 decreases with age? In fact, research from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition claims that 4-percent of females between the ages of 40 to 60-years old suffer from a B12 deficiency. Combine age with certain prescription medications (i.e., for heartburn), drinking too much alcohol, certain GI disorders that affect absorption, and a lack of meat in your diet, and you could find yourself deficient in vitamin B12. B12 is not found in plants, so people who avoid eating animal products (I’m talking to you Vegans and Vegetarians) need to supplement with B12.

Vitamin B12 benefits your mood, energy level, memory, heart, skin, hair, digestion and more. Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin in treating adrenal fatigue, multiple metabolic functions — including enzyme production, DNA synthesis and hormonal balance, as well as maintaining a healthy nervous and cardiovascular system. B12 is also required for the production of serotonin and dopamine, the feel good chemicals.

10 Signs of B12 Deficiency:

  1. Cognitive Issues; memory loss, “brain fog”,  dementia
  2. Dizziness/Balance Issues; with standing, vertigo walking or going up stairs
  3. Neurological issues; Pins and needles/tingling
  4. Lack of Energy; even after resting, often due to anemia associated with B12 deficiency. (lack of oxygen/lowered red blood count)
  5. Visual Issues; retinal damage, difficulty adjusting to light, blurred vision.
  6. Muscle Weakness; due to poor protein synthesis and lack of oxygen in the blood (lack of oxygen/lowered red blood count)
  7. Smoother tongue; less bumps on the tongue, which lead to decrease in taste. Food losing taste can also lead to weight loss (not the good kind)
  8. Mood Changes; anxiety, depression.
  9. Digestive Discomfort; nausea, diarrhea or constipation
  10. Pale Complexion (again, due to decreased red blood cell production).