I'm sure you've heard a lot about the importance of Vitamin B12, most people have, but many don't realize what it is or why it's important.

Your body needs B12 for many important functions to take place. B12 helps your body make DNA and maintain healthy red blood cells and nerve cells. Definitely important functions.

If we don't get enough B12 there can be severe consequences. A B12 deficiency can cause a variety of health problems.

Many of the symptoms/health problems that can be caused by a B12 deficiency include the following:

Unhealthy weight loss, Nerve disorders (numbness in hands and feet) that can potentially lead to nerve damage, fatigue, difficulty maintaining balance, soreness of tongue/mouth, poor memory, dementia, depression, and others.

Obviously experiencing any or all of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have a B12 deficiency. They can be caused by a variety of health problems. These symptoms should be looked into and evaluated by a Health Professional (naturopathic doctor, medical doctor, etc.) to find their cause.

One of the biggest issues with B12 is where it is found and where it is not found. B12 is found in a large amount of dairy products on the market and several meats, but it is very difficult to find a plant source for B12.

Which can put Vegans and Strict Vegetarians in a bit of a pickle. However people who are not vegetarians or vegans can still develop a deficiency through certain stomach or intestinal disorders that hinder the absorption of B12 into the body. Also, not eating a properly balanced diet could very possibly lead to a lack of adequate B12 intake.

The best advice I could find for Vegans and Vegetarians who don't eat meat or animal products, and those who don't eat a balanced diet, is to take supplements or eat B12 fortified foods.

The big downside of eating fortified foods is that you don't know what was used to fortify the foods.

Supplements can also be tricky. If you're not taking a liquid vitamin, chances are it's not fully dissolving or absorbing into your body. Which is money down the tubes. Also, the quality of the product is a huge consideration.

I've been Strict Vegetarian for right around 11 years now and I don't have a B12 deficiency. I believe this is due to the fact that my parents started giving me Daily Complete when I was about 9. I've been taking it ever since and have found it to be an excellent source of B12 and other nutrients that many people are lacking (it has over 200 other nutrients). It's a great vegetarian source of B12.

If you would like a quick over view of Daily Complete there is a short video at this link: http://secure.awarenesslife.com/ecard/viewer/index.cfm?vcard_id=123760