Most vegans and vegetarians know just how important B12 supplements are for their diet seeing how you can only find it in meat and meat derivatives. As healthy as a plant-based diet may be, you simply cannot find B12 vitamins in any vegetarian dish. Unfortunately, these vitamins are essential for maintaining your body’s red blood cell production, metabolism, and nervous system.
Now, if you follow a diet that doesn’t include meat, fish, or dairy, you might want to either rethink your diet or start taking B12 supplements. You can even do that if you’re a meat eater who for some reason, cannot absorb nutrients from your meals as your body should. Let us then take a look at the ten best B12 supplements out there and what exactly to consider when buying some.
Best B12 Supplements Of 2019
Vitamin B12-500 180
This package contains 500mcg of Vitamin B12 and it includes a proprietary absorption-protected Methylcobalamin for easy absorption. Made with 100% green energy, these vitamins contain no artificial additives, fillers, or coloring. More so, it has to be said that the manufacturer, ProCaps Laboratories, is committed to naturally enhancing the overall quality of their products by only employing solar and green energy in the manufacturing process. This is bound to put your mind at ease if you are particularly conscious about the environment in any way.
B12 Complete Chewable Tablets
With each package of B12 Complete Chewable Tablets, you get B12 vitamins in multiple forms, including Adenosylcobalamin, Methylcobalamin, and Hydroxocobalamin. All of these pills are completely chewable and are guaranteed to provide excellent absorption of the ingredients. Furthermore, the Hydroxocobalamin, in particular, is used by your body to scavenge nitric oxide and peroxides to reduce muscle pain sensitivity, brain fog, and any cardiovascular issues you might suffer from. Then again, this is precisely what you need to consider every time you buy a new batch of B12 supplements.
Better You – Boost B12 Oral Spray
This highly effective B12 spray is completely natural and can be used to increase daily energy and concentration levels. Aside from the nervous system benefits, it also helps improve your metabolism, which is definitely something to look for when taking B12 supplements of any kind. We should also point out that its 100% natural ingredients with a great apricot flavor to make their absorption more pleasant. Interestingly enough, this spray is also suitable for pregnant women all the way through their breastfeeding phase.
Pure Encapsulations – B12 5000 Liquid
Offering 66 servings per container, Pure Encapsulations delivers some of the greatest value for money of any B12 supplements out there. To perform the actual serving you employ a dropper that comes with the package. Speaking of value, you also get not one but two bottles of 10z liquid that you can easily store any way you see fit. Although it can be used by pretty much anyone, the intended purpose of these supplements is to help vegetarians and their dietary needs.
Spring Valley Sublingual Dots Vitamin B-12
As the name would suggest, these sublingual dots have to be administered orally by placing the supplements underneath the tongue. Packing 200 Cherry micro-lozenges, this 500 mcg bottle is enough to supplement someone’s diet for a very long time without needing a refill. Also worth pointing out is that it acts as an excellent metabolism support supplement, which is where some of the low-end B12 supplement usually drop the ball. In that regard, these are without a doubt, some of the most versatile supplements on the market, in the sense that they go well with almost any diet.
Revly Vitamin B12 Vegan
Formulated to meet the dietary needs of vegans everywhere, these raspberry flavored supplements can be used by almost anyone with no real restrictions. The package itself comes with 3,000 mcg vitamin B12 gummies that contain both Methylcobalamin and Hydroxycobalamin. That’s about 100 gummies per bottle, enough to ensure a person’s 50-day supply of B12 provided they take the supplements daily at the listed serving size. Furthermore, these supplements are 100% vegan, gluten-free, and certified by the USDA as organic and perfectly safe.
Jarrow Formulas Methyl B12
These cherry-flavored vitamin B12 supplements contain active coenzyme in their presented form, which is used to promote healthy homocysteine levels. Each of the two bottles you get contains 5,000 micrograms per lozenge, enough to provide a person’s daily supply of B12 for a very long time. What’s interesting about how these supplements are formulated is the fact that they can actively be used to improve neurotransmitter and neuron support if paired with a healthy diet. Speaking of which, Jarrow Formulas Methyl B12 can be used with virtually any vegan or vegetarian diet with no restrictions whatsoever.
Amazon Elements Vitamin B12 Methylcobalamin
Made from all natural mixed berry flavors, these B12 supplements offer a 2-month supply for anyone who follows the daily listed serving instructions. Containing no artificial colors, flavors, or chemical preservatives to speak of, these supplements are perfect for vegan and gluten-free diets. We should also point out that each of the 65 lozenges contained in the bottle delivers 5,000 mcg per serving, a sufficient dosage for anyone who follows a B12-based diet plan. Although the dosage may seem rather big for anyone who isn’t completely sold on the notion, we assure you that the formula was carefully planned to raise no health risks if taken regularly.
Now Foods B-12 2000mcg
Perfect for maintaining a healthy nervous system while following a healthy vegan diet, these B12 supplements from Now Foods are perhaps some of the most widespread out there. This is owed to the 2,000 mcg / 100 lozenges servings, which is the recommended dosage for anyone following a healthy vegan diet. It has to be said that each of these lozenges incorporates B12 in three forms, including Coenzyme supplements that are necessary for the day-to-day needs of your nervous system. This is a very important aspect of following a diet complemented by B12 supplements, which explains why more and more B12 supplements are formulated to be more versatile in their use.
Jarrow Formulas Methylcobalamin Methyl B12
These lemon-flavored B12 supplements from Jarrow are without a doubt, the most popular B12 supplements the market has to offer. These chewable supplements contain active Coenzyme and can be used to promote healthy homocysteine levels to the healthiest possible standards. Packing 100 lozenges of 1,000 mcg per unit, these supplements can be used to improve your body’s neurotransmitter and neuron support, along with a more efficient nervous system. All things considered, they are also some of the most risk-free supplements out there and have been known to work well with virtually any type of diet.
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B12 Supplements Buying Guide
Whether you are a vegan, vegetarian, or if you’re suffering from B12 assimilation issues, you will require B12 supplements sooner or later. When you finally have to make that decision, it will be up to you to decide which supplements would best suit your needs. Needless to say, good B12 supplements can help with your lack of energy or appetite, headaches, ringing in the ears, confusion, faintness, or extreme fatigue, especially if you pair them with a healthy diet plan. To ensure that you will be making the right decision when the time comes, we should perhaps take a few minutes and go through the process of figuring out which ones work best.
Absorption
The first thing you need to consider when questioning whether to use B12 supplements or not is just how effective your body is when it comes to absorbing these vitamins naturally. You see, people absorb vitamins and minerals at different rates from foods and supplements. The pace at which your body assimilates vitamins can be affected by genetics, food pairings, digestive issues, or malabsorption problems. In that regard, even good B12 supplements may be improperly handled by your digestive system if you have a particularly fatigued one. What you want to do first is find out which delivery method is most suitable for your individual needs.
Supplements vs Fortified Food
Even though some so-called ‘fortified foods’ claim to contain vitamin B12 on the label, you really cannot take that at face value. Most of the time, the manufacturers are trying to capitalize on the popularity of B12 supplements and the ever-growing vegan community. Even if these foods do indeed contain B12 vitamins to some extent, that might not be the optimal delivery method, especially if your body isn’t used to absorbing B12 via food. As such, you might be taking less than the optimal dosage, which can cause some really nasty problems for you further down the line.
We refer to fortified food as synthetic delivery channels because of their general inefficiency. Compared to natural sources, fortified foods simply cannot match when it comes to B12 delivery or how your body will react to them over time. Not just that but many of these foods also contain added oils, additives, and sugars, a formula that is proven to do more harm than good long-term. As such, you really want to employ supplements instead of fortified foods because of how more efficient they are overall.
Vegan Supplements
You also want to consider whether the supplements you plan to take are vegan-based, especially if you’re already following a vegan diet plan. It needs to be said that most vegan brands out there are non-GMO, with some even being organic and allergen-free by most standards. This is precisely why you need to read the back of the package carefully and thoroughly, along with checking online reviews to expand your understanding. While on the subject, we should point out that most of the popular B12 supplements are all-natural and expertly tested to contain no potentially hazardous ingredients to speak of.
Methylcobalamin Is Your Friend
Most B12 supplements come in either methylcobalamin or cyanocobalamin form. If you can, ensure that you always get methylcobalamin-based supplements because they are by far the most tested and guaranteed B12 supplements the market has to offer. You will be able to see this on the label of many popular supplements, even though it might sometimes be referred to as ‘methyl’ instead. Whatever the case, these supplements are guaranteed to be easily absorbed by your body without causing any conflicts with any dietary preferences you might have.
The reason why we suggest to always choose methyl-based supplements is that of their chemical structure. In principle, Methylcobalamin contains a methyl group based on carbon and hydrogen whereas cyanocobalamin contains a cyanide group. As the name suggests, you shouldn’t be exposing yourself to any cyanide-based supplements if you can help it, no matter how well the supplements were synthesized. We say this because synthetic vitamins can pose a host of problems for even the healthiest of people.
Delivery Method
After choosing the appropriate formula, you have to then think about the delivery method. While many B12 supplements come in pill form, some are available as sublingual, sprays, or liquid supplements. You can, of course, resume your use to traditional tablets, but bear in mind that requires that you eat the tablets and wait for them to be processed by your digestive system. With sublingual supplements, on the other hand, you get the certainty that the vitamins will immediately be absorbed into your bloodstream, just seconds after the tablets melt underneath your tongue.
The same can be said about B12 sprays and liquids, which have a much faster action overall. The main reason for this is because they do not have to be processed through digestion, a process made even slower if you have a full stomach. You do have to pay attention, however, because some sprays or liquid supplements also add refined sugars, food coloring, or a wide range of other flavoring agents that may end up making the supplements less effective while exposing you to unnecessary risks.
Dosage
Last but not least, you must also consider the dosage and just how much would serve your needs best. It needs to be said that most B12 supplements range from 500 mcg to 5,000 mcg depending on manufacturer, delivery method, or whether they have any alternate uses. If, for instance, you follow a vegan diet plan, you should start off with 1,000 mcg and raise the dosage to 2,000 or 5,000 mcg if you still experience fatigue, anemia, or other health issues. Keep in mind to always take your recommended daily dosage and not to go overboard with supplements of any kind, even if they’re advertised as all-natural or harmless by most standards.
I began my writing career writing for various content firms, but it was under the tutelage of the editors here at SavantMag.com that I grew as a writer and editor. I love the content we write here and bringing solid reviews to consumers is rewarding beyond what I can even describe.
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