B12 is not just a vegan concern!
Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that is essential to human health. It is produced by bacteria found in soil. Before large-scale farming and pesticide use, humans and animals alike got their vitamin B12 from food grown in soil. But due to soil desertification and mineral depletion, B12 is no longer found in most of the soil that we grow our food in.
Did you know 90% of B12 supplements produced are fed to livestock? In order to maintain meat as a source of B12, the meat industry has to fortify animal feed with vitamin B12.
Animals like cows, pigs and sheep would ordinarily get their B12 from munching on grass. But the vast majority of these animals are fed grain and soy and are therefore missing out on naturally occurring b12. Even grass-fed animals are deficient in vitamin B12 due to soil desertification, so these animals are also fed B12 supplements.
The animal is the middleman for your B12 supplement!
Why not cut out the middle-man and get your vitamin B12 straight from one of these plant-based B12 sources:
'Phuture' Plant-Based Meat
Phuture meat just launched their plant-based pork mince in stores across Thailand. Phuture is one of the only plant-based meats on the market that packs your vitamin B12 punch! Each 100g serving contains 25% of your RDA of vitamin B12.
You can find Phuture meat at Gourmet Market & Home Fresh in these locations.
Nutritional Yeast
Nutritional yeast is a popular food product amongst the vegan community. It is known for its cheesy taste and contains proteins, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Half a tablespoon of this yummy powder contains your RDA of vitamin B12.
Fortified Plant Milks
Many plant-milks are fortified with nutrients like B12. Check the back of the carton to see which plant-milks are fortified with vitamin B12. Here are some fortified plant-milks you can find in Thailand:
Fortified Cereals
Breakfast cereals are also often fortified with vitamin B12. Check the back of the box to see which cereals are fortified. Here are some fortified cereals you can find in Thailand:
- Kellogg’s Corn Flakes
- Kellogg’s Frosties
- Kellogg’s Coco Pops
- Kellogg’s Special K
- Kellogg’s All Bran
Supplements
Supplements are a great way to ensure you are fulfilling your vitamin B12 needs. Both vegans and non-vegans should be monitoring their B12 intake and supplements are a good way to put your mind at ease. Here are the different types of B12 supplements available:
- Cyanocobalamin in chewable, sublingual, or liquid forms (rather than in a multivitamin) is best under most circumstances.
- B12 injections: You can ask your doctor for a B12 supplement via injection. You can get these every 2-3 months to ensure your B12 levels are high enough.
