Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin with many essential functions in your body.
It’s necessary for keeping your nerves healthy and supporting the production of DNA ,red blood cells and brain function.
The Reference Daily Intake (RDI) is about 2.4 micrograms (mcg) but slightly higher for those who are pregnant or nursing.
Vitamin B12 is absorbed in your stomach with the help of a protein called intrinsic factor. This substance binds to the vitamin B12 molecule.
Excess vitamin B12 is stored in your liver. If you consume more than the RDI, your body saves it for future use.
Your body can’t make vitamin B12, so you must get it from your diet or supplements. Here are 12 foods rich to consider adding to your diet.
The foods highest in vitamin B12, an essential nutrient for red blood cell formation and neurological function.
1.Fortified Cereals rich in vitamin b12
This source may work well for vegetarians and vegans because it’s synthetically made and not derived from animal sources.
Although not commonly recommended , fortified cereals can be a good source of B vitamins, especially B12. Food fortification is the process of adding nutrients that are not originally in the food.
For instance, Malt-O-Meal Raisin Bran offers up to 62% of the DV for vitamin B12 in 1 cup (59 grams)Trusted Source. The same serving of this cereal also packs 29% of the DV for vitamin B6 and good amounts of vitamin A, folate, and iron.
Research showsTrusted Source that eating fortified cereals daily helps increase vitamin B12 concentrations.
One older 2004 studyTrusted Source showed that when participants ate 1 cup (240 mL) of fortified cereal containing 4.8 mcg (200% of the DV) of vitamin B12 daily for 14 weeks, their B12 levels increased significantly.
If you use fortified cereal to increase your vitamin B12 intake, choose a product that’s low in added sugar and high in fiber or whole grains.