To support the return of the We Eat Balanced campaign, Dr Ranj Singh, the NHS doctor and celebrity guest editor of Healthy Child, is encouraging Britons to ‘Wake Up to B12’, one of many important nutrients that we get from a healthy balanced diet.
As part of his contribution, Dr Ranj joined an early morning milk round, and said milk was a “great option” for the public, adding that it was “packed with important nutrients like B12 at an affordable price.”
Dr Singh said: “This January I’d encourage families to ‘Wake Up to B12’ with a healthy breakfast made up of foods such as milk and other dairy products.
“Vitamin B12 can help to reduce tiredness and fatigue and can help your immune system to work normally.”
The campaign is organised by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), a body funded by farmers, growers and others in the supply chain, to help Britain’s food and farming sector succeed in a rapidly changing world.
According to a recent AHDB survey, one in four (26%) adults are unaware that vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that helps to reduce tiredness and fatigue, while a further quarter (27%) do not know of B12’s role in helping the immune system to work normally.
WHY IS B12 SO IMPORTANT?
Vitamin B12 plays an important role in the diet. If you’re feeling a little run-down or worse for wear, you may have concerns about whether you are getting enough nutrients in your diet. A healthy, balanced diet will provide you with the nutrients you need.
When it comes to vitamin B12, adults need around 1.5 micrograms of vitamin B12 a day. B12 is found naturally in a wide variety of animal-sourced foods, including meat (beef, lamb and pork) and dairy (milk, cheese and yogurt). B12 can be more difficult to source from foods of plant origin but can be found in certain fortified products like breakfast cereals and dairy milk alternatives.
See also: What Caused Excess Deaths in 2022?
THREE REASONS TO WAKE UP TO B12
B12 can help to reduce tiredness and fatigue
B12 can help support the immune system to work normally
B12 helps the body to release energy from food
A varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are recommended for good health.
BENEFITS OF MILK
Milk is a good value source of vitamin B12, and as it can be purchased for as little as 95p per pint 2, it can help with household spending affected by the cost-of-living crisis
In addition, milk contains six other essential vitamins and minerals and is one of the cheapest sources of protein
FOODS NATURALLY CONTAINING VITAMIN B12 TO ADD TO YOUR SHOPPING LIST:
Meat such as pork, beef and lamb. Opt for cuts such as 5% pork or beef mince
Milk, cheese and yogurt
