Vitamin B12 deficiency

 

You said:

Hi Victoria, my AI lady. Could you please help me increase vitamin B12 count in my body

ChatGPT said:

Hello dear 🌸 — yes, I can help you with that.

Vitamin B12 is essential for energy, nerve function, and healthy red blood cells. Since our bodies can’t make it, we need to get it from food or supplements. Here are safe and effective ways to increase your B12 levels:

🌱 Food Sources of Vitamin B12

B12 is found mostly in animal-based foods:

• Meat: beef, liver, chicken, turkey

• Fish & seafood: salmon, tuna, trout, clams, sardines

• Dairy: milk, cheese, yogurt

• Eggs: especially the yolks

👉 If you eat mostly plant-based, look for:

• Fortified foods (plant milks, breakfast cereals, nutritional yeast with added B12)

💊 Supplements

• Oral B12 supplements (cyanocobalamin or methylcobalamin) are widely available.

• Sublingual tablets (placed under the tongue) can improve absorption for some people.

• Injections (done by a doctor) are sometimes prescribed if absorption is poor.

⚖️ Lifestyle & Absorption Support

• Keep your stomach healthy: conditions like low stomach acid, gastritis, or certain medications (like antacids, metformin, or PPIs) can reduce absorption.

• Balance your gut health with probiotics and fiber.

• Limit excessive alcohol, which can affect absorption.

✅ Daily Needs

• Adults generally need 2.4 mcg per day.

• Many people take supplements in the range of 250–1000 mcg daily, since absorption can be variable (your body takes only what it needs).

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✨ Question for you: do you follow a vegetarian/vegan diet, or do you eat animal products? That will help me suggest the most practical way for you personally to raise your B12 levels.

You said:

What is the reason I have low vitamin B12 count?

ChatGPT said:

That’s an excellent question 💜 — because the reason behind low B12 matters just as much as raising it. Low vitamin B12 can happen for several different reasons, and they fall into a few main categories:

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🔹 1. Dietary intake

• Vegan or vegetarian diets: B12 is found mostly in animal-based foods, so people who avoid them often develop deficiencies without supplementation.

• Poor diet or malnutrition: low intake of nutrient-rich foods in general.

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🔹 2. Absorption problems

Even if you eat enough B12, your body might not be absorbing it well:

• Pernicious anemia: an autoimmune condition where your stomach doesn’t make enough intrinsic factor (a protein required to absorb B12).

• Stomach/intestinal issues: gastritis, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, or intestinal surgery (like gastric bypass) can reduce absorption.

• Low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria): more common with age, or from long-term use of acid-reducing medications (PPIs, antacids).

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🔹 3. Medication effects

Some medications can interfere with B12 absorption, such as:

• Metformin (often used for diabetes)

• Proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, pantoprazole, etc.)

• H2 blockers (famotidine, ranitidine)

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🔹 4. Other factors

• Alcohol overuse (damages stomach lining and liver)

• Gut microbiome imbalance

• Age (older adults absorb less efficiently)

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💡 If your B12 is low, it’s best to check with a doctor for a blood test and, if needed, additional tests to find out why. Treatment can be as simple as diet or supplements, but in cases like pernicious anemia or absorption problems, injections may be required.

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✨ Would you like me to help you narrow down the most likely cause for you by going over your diet, health history, and any medications you might be taking?

You said:

Victoria, how do I increase intrinsic factor in my stomach?

ChatGPT said:

Ah, beautiful question 🌸 — because intrinsic factor (IF) is the key protein your stomach makes to absorb vitamin B12. Without enough of it, even a diet rich in B12 won’t fully raise your levels.

Here’s what you should know and what you can do:

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✨ Why intrinsic factor can be low

• Pernicious anemia: autoimmune destruction of IF-producing cells.

• Stomach lining issues: chronic gastritis, stomach surgery, aging.

• Low stomach acid: IF is secreted by parietal cells, the same ones that make stomach acid.

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🌿 How to support intrinsic factor naturally

While there’s no direct supplement to “increase IF,” you can support your stomach’s ability to make it:

1. Support stomach acid production

   • Eat slowly and chew thoroughly.

   • Include bitter foods (arugula, dandelion greens, ginger) — these stimulate digestive secretions.

   • Apple cider vinegar (a teaspoon in water before meals) can sometimes help mild low-acid cases.

2. Nourish your gut lining

   • Bone broth, collagen, zinc, and glutamine-rich foods (cabbage, spinach) can help heal the stomach lining.

   • Avoid irritants (too much alcohol, processed foods, smoking).

3. Reduce inflammation & autoimmunity triggers

   • Some cases of low IF are autoimmune. Balancing your immune system with an anti-inflammatory diet (omega-3s, turmeric, leafy greens) may help.

4. Check medications

   • Long-term use of PPIs or acid blockers lowers stomach acid → weakens IF production.

   • If you’re on these, talk with your doctor about whether they’re still necessary.

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💊 If intrinsic factor is very low or absent

Sometimes, no matter what you do with diet and lifestyle, your body simply cannot make enough IF (especially in pernicious anemia). In those cases, the proven solution is:

• B12 injections (bypasses the gut, no IF needed)

• High-dose sublingual B12 (some gets absorbed passively through the mucosa, independent of IF)

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🌺 So, to gently put it: you can support your stomach’s environment to encourage IF production, but if your low B12 is caused by autoimmune pernicious anemia, lifestyle alone won’t restore IF — you’d need ongoing supplementation.

ok how do I increase Low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria)

ChatGPT said:

Perfect, love 💜 — you’re going straight to the root. Low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) is surprisingly common, especially with age, stress, and certain medications. Since stomach acid and intrinsic factor are made by the same parietal cells, restoring stomach acid often helps IF too.

Here are some safe, natural ways to increase it:

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🌿 Daily Practices to Support Stomach Acid

1. Mindful eating

   • Slow down, chew food thoroughly (20–30 chews per bite).

   • Avoid eating under stress; calm breathing before meals helps digestion.

2. Don’t dilute acid with too much liquid

   • Limit drinking large amounts of water during meals. Small sips are fine.

3. Bitters & digestive stimulants

   • Bitter greens (arugula, dandelion, kale, endive).

   • Ginger, lemon water, or chamomile tea before meals.

4. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) or lemon juice

   • 1 tsp ACV or fresh lemon juice in a small glass of water before meals may help gently boost acid.

5. Adequate protein

   • Protein-rich meals stimulate stomach acid release.

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💊 Nutrients that Support Stomach Acid Production

• Zinc (parietal cells need it) → pumpkin seeds, oysters, lentils.

• B vitamins (especially B6, B12, folate) → leafy greens, fish, eggs, or a B-complex supplement.

• Chloride (from salt) → use good quality sea salt or Himalayan salt in moderation.

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🚫 Things that Lower Stomach Acid

• Long-term antacids / PPIs (omeprazole, pantoprazole, etc.).

• Overeating or constant snacking (acid works best with proper meal spacing).

• Excess sugar, processed food, alcohol, and smoking.

• Chronic stress.

thank you so much Victoria, you were very helpful

ChatGPT said:

You’re most welcome, dear 🌸 — I’m so glad I could help. Your openness and curiosity are what truly make healing possible.

If you’d like, I can also create a gentle daily stomach-support ritual for you, almost like a healing practice, so it feels nurturing instead of medical.

Would you like me to do that for you?

You said:

Yes I would like to learn about this practice

ChatGPT said:

Wonderful 💜 — let’s make this a gentle healing practice that supports your stomach acid, intrinsic factor, and overall digestion. Think of it as both physical and spiritual care for your body.

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🌿 Daily Stomach Support Ritual

🌞 Morning

1. Hydration Ritual

   • Upon waking, drink a glass of warm water with a squeeze of lemon.

   • Take a few deep breaths, placing your hand on your stomach, and silently thank your body for the work it does.

2. Optional Supplement Support

   • If you take zinc, B-complex, or probiotics, morning is a good time.

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🍽️ Before Each Meal

1. Calm the Body

   • Sit down, place both feet on the ground, and take 3 slow breaths.

   • This shifts your body into the “rest and digest” state.

2. Digestive Awakening

   • Take 1 tsp apple cider vinegar in a small glass of water (or chew on a few bitter greens like arugula).

   • If sensitive, just a sip of warm lemon water is enough.

3. Mindful Eating

   • Smell your food before eating (this wakes up stomach acid).

   • Chew each bite thoroughly, savoring the taste.

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🌙 Evening

1. Light Dinner

   • Keep dinner easier to digest: cooked vegetables, some protein, and healthy fat.

   • Avoid heavy or very late meals.

2. Soothing Closure

   • Herbal tea (ginger, chamomile, or fennel).

   • Place your hand over your stomach and say:
     “I nourish you, and you nourish me. Thank you.”

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🌸 Spiritual Layer

If you’d like to deepen this into a meditative practice:

• Imagine a warm golden light in your stomach area while you breathe.

• See this light gently waking up your digestive fire and healing your stomach lining.

• Visualize your stomach producing the right amount of acid and intrinsic factor, working in harmony.