Tag: Nutritional Therapy – Craniosacral Therapy – Neurolinguistic programming

Nutritional Therapist Craniosacral therapist – NAET practitioner – NLP practitioner

Listening to the Body: Go within to heal yourself!

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

As I work gently with the whole person—physical, emotional, and, when appropriate, spiritual—I often become aware of different sensations through my hands and intuitive awareness. Sometimes I notice areas that feel warm, tense, dense, or resistant, particularly around the head, neck, and body.

Over many years of practice, I have observed that these sensations can sometimes reflect areas where a person has been holding physical tension or experiencing emotional stress. While these are my clinical and intuitive observations, they should not be interpreted as medical diagnosis.

I believe that the body often communicates before the conscious mind fully understands what it is carrying. During a session, we gently create space for awareness, allowing the person to notice thoughts, feelings, or life experiences that may be connected to what they are experiencing physically. This process is always guided with kindness, compassion, and without judgement.

My role is not to force change, but to support the body’s own natural capacity for balance and self-regulation. As the nervous system relaxes and the body begins to soften, many people describe feeling lighter, calmer, more flexible, and more connected to themselves. Often these positive changes continue to unfold naturally in the days and weeks following a session.

At times, I may experience warmth through my hands. Within my holistic practice, I sometimes interpret this as an indication that a person may be carrying strong emotions such as frustration, sadness, grief, or emotional intensity. This interpretation comes from my experience as a therapist and from traditional holistic perspectives, rather than established scientific evidence.

When working with babies and children, I often observe how naturally they respond once their bodies begin to relax. Children frequently release tension quickly and may become calmer, more settled, and more comfortable. Supporting parents to understand their child’s emotional and physical needs is an important part of my work, helping families respond with greater confidence, compassion, and connection.

Every person is unique. Every body tells its own story and responds in its own way and in its own time. Each session honours the wisdom of the individual, supporting their natural journey towards greater balance, wellbeing, and inner peace.

Begin Your Healing Journey

Book your healing session today and discover how your body can naturally unfold, heal, and find balance—in your own way and in your own time.

Maria Esposito BSc (Hons)
Holistic Healing & Heart-Led Therapy


📍 North London

Supporting babies, children, and adults with compassionate, heart-led holistic care for over 30 years.

Healing Ourselves, Healing Our Children, Healing Our World!

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

Working with Babies, Children and Adults through Craniosacral Therapy

“What happens during a session? I don’t see anything happening. Are you doing anything?”

This is one of the questions I am asked most often.

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, hands-on therapy. Although the touch is light and the movements are subtle, many people describe experiencing a deep sense of relaxation during treatment.

During a session, I use my hands to gently assess areas of tension, restriction and movement throughout the body. My training in anatomy, physiology, the musculoskeletal system, fascia and the body’s natural rhythms allows me to work with the body in a careful, responsive and individualised way.

Rather than attempting to force change, the intention is to support the body’s natural processes and create the conditions in which it can function with greater ease and comfort.

Every session is tailored to the individual, recognising that each person’s experience is unique.

Working with Babies

Babies often respond well to the gentle nature of craniosacral therapy because their bodies are still developing and adapting to life outside the womb.

Birth can be an intense experience for both mother and baby. Whether the birth was straightforward or more complex, some parents choose craniosacral therapy as a way of supporting their baby’s adjustment during the early weeks and months.

Parents sometimes report that their babies appear calmer and more settled following treatment. Some also notice changes in feeding, sleeping patterns and general comfort. As every baby is unique, responses to treatment vary considerably.

The techniques used during treatment are extremely gentle and are intended to support relaxation and overall wellbeing.

Working with Children

Children may benefit from craniosacral therapy during times of physical, emotional or developmental change.

Parents often tell me that their children seem calmer, more comfortable and better able to cope with the demands of everyday life following treatment. Some children also appear more confident and better able to express themselves.

Each child is treated as an individual, and every session is adapted according to their needs.

Working with Adults

Many adults seek craniosacral therapy because they wish to make time for themselves, experience deep relaxation and explore a greater sense of balance and wellbeing.

Each session is unique because no two people are the same. Rather than directing the process, I work alongside you, allowing your body to respond in its own way and at its own pace.

Many people describe the experience as being like peeling back the layers of an onion, gradually revealing deeper patterns of tension, stress and holding.

From the moment you arrive, my intention is to provide a safe, supportive and compassionate environment in which you can relax. As the body settles, many people describe experiencing a greater sense of ease, calmness and wellbeing.

Every healing journey is unique, and we move forward at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

Is Craniosacral Therapy the Same as Reiki?

People often ask me this question because some clients describe experiencing colours, images, deep relaxation, or a profound sense of peace during treatment.

Although there are similarities in the gentle nature of the touch, craniosacral therapy and Reiki are different approaches.

Craniosacral therapy is grounded in the study of anatomy, physiology and the body’s physical structures. The therapist works with gentle touch to assess and support the body’s natural movement and balance.

Reiki is a spiritual energy healing practice that works from a different philosophy and framework.

Some people find that craniosacral therapy also brings emotional or spiritual awareness during a session. This experience is unique to each individual and depends on many factors, including where they are on their own healing journey and what they are ready to explore.

My intention is always to support the whole person—with compassion, presence and respect for the body’s own wisdom and natural ability to move towards balance.

Craniosacral therapy: “what do you feel?”

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

During sessions, people often ask me, “What do you feel?”

Each person responds differently to a craniosacral session because every system has its own map, history, and way of responding to life experiences.

As I connect with the whole system — physical, emotional, and sometimes spiritual, when appropriate — I may notice different sensations through my hands and awareness. Often I feel heat, tension, or pain, especially when working around the head area.

For me, pain can sometimes reflect inner conflict, stress, or thoughts and emotions that the person may not yet be fully aware of. The body and brain often communicate through sensations before the conscious mind understands what is happening. When this arises, we gently explore what may be going on emotionally or mentally, allowing space for awareness, compassion, and new possibilities.

My role is to support the system and the person in letting go of what is no longer needed, with care, love, and compassion. As this happens, the whole system often begins to reorganize and adjust naturally. People frequently describe feeling lighter, calmer, more flexible, and more at ease afterward. Sometimes changes continue unfolding in daily life without great effort.

Heat can carry a different meaning. It may relate to anger, frustration, emotional intensity, or unresolved feelings toward oneself, another person, or a life situation. At times, especially with children, these feelings may even reflect emotional dynamics around them.

Children often release these patterns more easily. When parents become aware of what the child may be experiencing emotionally — whether frustration, fear, uncertainty, or difficulty adapting to new situations — they are often better able to support their child with understanding and openness.

Every person experiences life differently, and every body responds in its own way. The session respects the wisdom of the individual system and supports the person according to their own unique journey.

Book your healing session and see how you unfold in your own way and time!

The Health Benefits of Apples: Why One a Day Matters

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

Almost everyone knows the expression “one apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Even in Italy, where I grew up, we used this saying! Being lucky enough to grow up in the countryside near the seaside, I didn’t realize at the time that not everyone had the same fortune of picking their own fruits and vegetables from their front yard.

I remember simply going under the tree, picking the fruits of the season, washing them, and eating them. I don’t think I have ever tasted fruit quite like that again. The only time I still experience it is when I go back to Italy, where my parents still pick pears from the tree for our breakfast.

But fruits in general contain a good amount of nutrients and vitamins, so why are apples the ones most associated with this famous expression? I’m not sure exactly where or when it started, but here are some facts about apples, their history, and their qualities.

There are about 25 common types of apples, and they vary in colour and texture—from green to deep red. Some are sweet, such as Red Delicious and Royal Gala (my favourite), while others have a sharper taste, like Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Cox apples.

It is believed that the original apple tree comes from Eastern Europe and Southwestern Asia. Through cultivation and hybridization—the process of combining different varieties or species of trees to create new ones—many more varieties have developed over time from the original apple tree.

In the past, apples were even thought to help people stay forever young. Modern scientific studies show that regular consumption of apples may help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, asthma, and type 2 diabetes, partly because apples release sugar slowly into the bloodstream.

Apples contain high amounts of flavonoids, especially quercetin. Quercetin is an antioxidant that helps protect the integrity of cell membranes. Our bodies are made up of millions of cells, and the outer part of these cells can constantly be under attack from oxidation. Quercetin, along with other antioxidants such as vitamin C and many flavonoids found in colourful fruits and vegetables, helps protect our cells from damage.

Quercetin also helps block the inflammatory cascade, which plays a role in several inflammatory conditions such as asthma, arthritis, and allergies.

Of course, some people may be allergic to apples. In that case, it is important to find suitable alternatives or solutions.

Another important component of apples is pectin. Pectin can help lower cholesterol levels by improving intestinal motility and reducing the reabsorption of fats and toxins—in other words, it helps the body eliminate waste more efficiently.

One medium apple provides about three grams of fibre. Eating about two apples a day may reduce cholesterol levels by up to 11 percent. Pectin is helpful not only for relieving constipation but also for easing diarrhoea. In fact, the over-the-counter medication Kaopectate contains pectin.

Nutritionally, raw apples provide vitamin C, pectin, fibre, potassium, and phytochemicals such as ellagic acid (another antioxidant) and quercetin.

So when people say that “one apple a day keeps the doctor away,” there is some truth to it. However, many fruits contain valuable nutrients, antioxidants, and fibre. For this reason, it is important to vary and combine different fruits to gain the widest range of health benefits.

Hopefully this has convinced you to start carrying an apple—or perhaps two—in your lunch box or bag. Of course, other fruits are just as good. A fresh fruit salad is also a wonderful and enjoyable way to get all that goodness!

http://www.nutritionhealth.net

Swaddled baby Leo and unswaddled baby Mia sleeping in a crib

Swaddling or not swaddling your baby — that is the question.

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

If you have swaddled your baby, please don’t worry — all is well and nothing harmful has happened.

I have been researching swaddling and have not found strong medical evidence clearly proving significant long-term pros or cons. Historically, swaddling began in cultures where babies stayed very close to their parents throughout the day. Babies were often carried on the front or back while parents worked or went about daily life, and swaddling sometimes helped them feel secure and connected to their caregivers, especially during sleep.

From what we understand about infant brain development, movement is an important part of growth. Each movement helps stimulate the brain and supports the development of new neural connections. Because of this, some practitioners believe that babies benefit from freedom to move and stretch their bodies.

Sometimes babies who seem to need swaddling to settle may simply be adjusting to the experience of birth. Birth can occasionally be physically intense — for example after a caesarean birth, ventouse or forceps delivery, or a labour that was very fast or very long. Stress or emotional challenges during pregnancy can also influence how both mother and baby adjust after birth.

If you did swaddle your baby and your child is now a toddler, please be reassured: they are absolutely fine. Swaddling has been used for generations.

However, if you currently have a baby who struggles to settle and seems uncomfortable, you may wish to explore gentle supportive approaches that aim to help babies relax and find balance in their bodies. Some parents choose to see a craniosacral therapist — like myself — with 16 years of experience working with mothers and babies and 35 years of experience as a holistic therapist.

If you live in North London, look at the options below for either my private practice in various clinics or a community clinic drop-in.

Silhouette of a glowing humanoid form composed of illuminated leaves in a dark forest

Release Old Traumas for Better Wellbeing: Start Your Healing Journey

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

It is now more than ever that our human body, either the physical, mental and emotional needs more help to heal than ever. The unbalance in more than one Country, can affect everybody in the entire World, as we are all one, this can affect our fields of emotion, mental, spiritual and eventually physical. This is even more for more sensitive people children, babies and sensitive adults, including spiritual open adults. It feels that we are swimming again the current, and getting tired or exhausted without doing anything. If you are feeling that is harder than usual to do the exact same things, you are right. Even if you do not notice it as much or you do not have time for that, well this is the time to ask for help. All the old Karma, or trauma or emotions that you have bottled up within you, needs to go, and now it is the time.

Nutritionally, physically, mentally and spiritually, it is time to let go!

Book your session to start shedding things that no longer serve you any good!

COMT and neurotransmitters

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

(COMT) is an enzyme that helps break down catechol compounds, including neurotransmitters like:

  • Dopamine
  • Norepinephrine (noradrenaline)
  • Epinephrine (adrenaline)

COMT works by transferring a methyl group from S‑adenosyl methionine (SAMe) to those molecules, which helps deactivate them.

It is active mainly in:

  • the liver
  • the brain (especially the prefrontal cortex)

So the basic biochemical idea in your text is correct.

COMT genetic variants

There are known variants of the **COMT gene. The most studied is the **Val158Met COMT polymorphism.

This variant affects how quickly COMT breaks down dopamine.

  • Val/Val (“fast COMT”) → dopamine broken down faster
  • Met/Met (“slow COMT”) → dopamine broken down slower

People with slower COMT may have:

  • slightly higher dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex
  • sometimes increased stress sensitivity

Raw Beetroot contains betaine (trimethylglycine, TMG), which is indeed involved in the body’s methylation cycle.

Betaine helps convert homocysteine → methionine in the liver via the Betaine-Homocysteine Methyltransferase (BHMT) pathway. This supports production of S‑adenosyl methionine (SAMe), which is the body’s main methyl donor.

SAMe is used in hundreds of processes, including:

  • Neurotransmitter metabolism (adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine and more)
  • Liver detoxification
  • DNA methylation
  • Hormone metabolism

It is your choice if you would want to try raw betaine juice or not to see if it helps with your sleep, reducing the anxiety or reduce your cholesterol and or homocysteine.

Medically there is no research for the natural things, and as we know nobody is going to sponsor things that are for free, or that might work without medication!

I am a great advocate or checking if your liver works well, genetically, and there is a lot that it can be said for different gene pool and gene variant.

If you would like to be tested (private tests with genetic company, extra costs). Book an appointment and we go from there, or we try dietary changes, lifestyle changes and more to get you into health!

Beetroot, Betaine and Methylation for immunity and more

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

Beetroot, Betaine, and Methylation and immunity

Raw Beetroot contains betaine (trimethylglycine, TMG), which is indeed involved in the body’s methylation cycle.

Betaine helps convert homocysteine → methionine in the liver via the Betaine-Homocysteine Methyltransferase (BHMT) pathway. This supports production of S‑adenosyl methionine (SAMe), which is the body’s main methyl donor.

SAMe is used in hundreds of processes, including:

  • Neurotransmitter metabolism (adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine       and more)
  • Liver detoxification
  • DNA methylation
  • Hormone metabolism

Methylation Genes

Several genes affect how well the methylation system works.

MTHFR

This gene helps activate folate for methylation. Variants can reduce efficiency of the cycle.

COMT

COMT uses SAMe to methylate catechol compounds, including: Dopamine, Adrenaline, Estrogen metabolites

People with slower COMT variants sometimes describe feeling “wired but tired”, because neurotransmitters clear more slowly.

Magnesium and COMT

COMT requires magnesium as a cofactor, so adequate magnesium can support the enzyme’s activity.

One commonly used form is: Magnesium glycinate. It’s often chosen because it’s well absorbed and gentle on digestion.Glycine and Hormone Metabolism

Betaine contains glycine, and glycine plays roles in: Liver detox pathways, Glutathione production, Neurotransmitter balance

SAMe-dependent methylation reactions also help process catechol estrogens, which is why methylation is sometimes discussed in relation to hormone balance. However, it’s important to note that hormone metabolism involves many systems, not only methylation.

Beetroot for Cough Relief

My mother used to support my immune system with raw beetroot juice, beetroot as well as TMG contains the following:

Nitrates → improve circulation

Polyphenols → anti-inflammatory

Vitamin C and antioxidants

Beetroot should not be consider a substitute for medication for your cough, however, if it does help and your cough is reduced than it is worth investigating your gene pool.

Traditional remedies often worked because they supported nutrition and immunity, even if people didn’t know the chemistry. Nowdays, we might have forgotten than food is still our main medicine and health, but also our own destroyer if we eat non-nutrition dense food! eg. take away food and more…. Let food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food!

IVF support before, during and after! Connecting to your body!

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

I have worked with few mothers that were going to use IVF as the last resort, due to the mother or father being unable to conceive for unknown reasons at times.

Now infertility can happen for many reasons, and it seems that the past 20 years is increasing, due to high oestrogen in water, in food and the toxins in the environment. So many different reasons that at time, even with a very good nutrition, adjusting the body, doing lots of complementary therapy, still, things do not happen.

For whatever reason, you need to decide to go through IVF, make sure that you are prepared, for success or failure.

Nutritionally is important to have a good healthy body, the thyroid is one of the key essential organ also to allow the success of the IVF and or pregnancy in general.

Usually the doctors will do all the test to check that all is in order. Nutritionally, B12, folic acid, iron and protein are few of the most important factors. Sometimes an allergy to wheat and gluten can cause inflammation and hence low probability of success in pregnancy. Sometimes is the milk of eggs that are the problems. I use a method called NAET to test and help to reduce the over reaction for certain foods.

I have seen women before, during and after the IVF to support them through the journey, nutritionally, emotionally, physically and mentally, as well as spiritually at times with some women.

This is valid for all pregnancy in whatever way you achieve that blessing!

Craniosacral therapy what it will do for you click here

Nutrition and NAET click here

NLP and craniosacral therapy click here

CST leads you to connect to your body, before, during and after pregnancy, connect to your baby before, during and post partum, and understand the changes that are occurring in your life.

Resolves conflict with NLP tool before, during and after pregnancy. Be present at all time, whatever happens, understanding and know your feelings and emotions at all time. Becoming your best friend during this wonderful time to your body and your baby! You are already a mother the moment you decide to have a baby!

If you are struggling with IVF, come and see me, to see how you can be supported, you will get an email with suggestions after the session for nutrition:

  • Nutrition alone 1 hour £ 90 pounds (at Crouch end Clinic £ 110)
  • Nutrition and craniosacral therapy, 1 and half hour, of craniosacral therapy £ 120 at N15 (at Crouch end clinic £ 140)
  • Craniosacral therapy only 1 hour at N15 £ 65.00 (at Crouch end clinic £ 80)
  • Craniosacral therapy and NLP 1 hour and half at N15 £ 120 (at Crouch end clinic £ 140)
  • NAET for testing over-reaction to food 1 hour and half N15 £ 120 (at Crouch end clinic £ 140)

Contact me or email me to book your appointments.

Why You Need Vitamin B12: Functions and Benefits Explained

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

As a nutritionist you get always surprised when something that you recommended to one of your clients did exactly what your client told you. Sometimes I think they might be a placebo effect when the improvement is so quick, but I must admit that it is possible.

One of my clients, a while back, said that vitamin B12 sublingual made a huge difference from the moment they took it. Now I thought, well the research mention that it might take few weeks to see a big improvement with sublingual or even with B12 injections, which by the way, sublingual and injections seems to have the same quick effect, so I now might choose the sublingual instead.

I had a series of little things recently, which started from my digestions of food, not as noticeable that I thought of a problem, as everything seems to be ok. I did have a bit of stress due to my dog passed away this year, but I did not think that stress and sadness would turn into a healthy issue, even though I should know better. As usual as therapist we think we are invincible and always ok.

Anyway, I did a good liver detox, digestions make over, food and diet a bit healthier than before (pretty healthy, already), a bit more soups and stew, with plenty of vegetables, nutritious proteins and good fats, and plenty of liver detox support supplements. That made my digestions and liver very, very happy. Now due to the liver and digestions problems, my immune system went down, with more viral infections that I usually have.

The last one is the one that is going around, the sore throat and flu. I manage it again with lots of vitamin C and other immune support. But still could not shift it, even with steam and lots of throat support and gargles with salt and water, and more, it seems my body immunity did not fight back quickly enough.

At some point I was much better, but still at night I would have this irritate cough and a sensation that a frog was stuck in my throat, I decide to go and buy some oregano to support my immune system with the vitamin C and a multi vitamin support. I could not find the oregano but for some nutritional instinct I decided to buy a sublingual Vitamin B12. I took 2 sachets of it of a total of about 500 microgram and within less than 10 minutes my irritate frog went completely, to my amazement, my mucus was loose and little. I thought was only my imagination, but did not have any cough at night and woke up still ok. I feel myself again. Now ideally would want to check my B12, but I am not vegetarian and I thought that might be normal. Eventually I will but could be that is going to be private, as the NHS right now is a bit annoying for appointments.

I looked more into the B12, and in reality, the fact that I had a stomach issue, due to low stomach acid, might have stopped the intrinsic factor and the R factor to transport my B12 into the cells.

Now I will explain a bit more about the absorption, and function of the B12 in more details, for everyone to understand the reason why everyone, from vegan to meat eaters can be low in B12, even though B12 is stored for years, if it is not transported into the cells, it is like you have none.

B12, unlike any other water B vitamins that are excreted every few hours from your body, is stored in the liver, with vitamin D, E and A.

Sources of vitamin B12 are only from animal products, any vegetarian source is by contact with animal or cross contamination or fortified vegetarian food, included cereals. Now the source of fortified food depends on the quality and the form of the B12.

B12 has a corrin nucleus and is part of the groups called corrinoids. This is a macrocyclic ring made of four reduced pyrrole rings linked together, this will carry an atom of cobalt, hence quite often you will see the name of the B12 as cyanocobalamin, hydrocobalamin, and Methylcobalamin and more. The methylcobalamin are the active form as coenzymes for many functions in the body.

Bioavailability of B12 can be impaired by vitamin C, so if you take B12 with a high or low dosage of vitamin C together at the same time or up to 1 hour after meal, such as 500mg, you stop from the B12 to work and be absorbed.

Digestion, absorption, transport and storage of vitamin B12:

Once the B12 is ingested from food, it needs to be released from the enzyme pepsin in the stomach (the stomach acid needs to be working well for the pepsin to be secreted, low stomach acid, will impair the secretion of pepsin and hence, B12 is not going to be released from the food, even if you are a meat eaters or eggs eater).

Also with stress, there is no signal to the stomach to release and activate pepsin to digest the proteins. The vagal nerve, is involved in the digestion process, too much into stress mode or sympathetic mode, will stop your full and healthy digestion, hence my stress or sadness caused by the loss of a dog, who was very dear to me, caused my stress, which caused my low stomach acid, which caused my B12 malfunction, which caused my immunity to go down, and so forth. Connecting the dots……

Once B12 is released from the food ingested, it needs two proteins for working. One is the intrinsic factor (IF) and the other is the R proteins. The IF is again made by the gastric cells (made again with a good and healthy stomach acid). IF is made and released by the stomach during a healthy digestion and works in the small intestine. The R proteins are everywhere in the body fluids, and have a high affinity for cobalamin. R will pick up the free cobalamin and transport it to the duodenum, first part of the small intestine, where the pancreatic juices will release the B12 again, unless you have a pancreatic insufficiency, (low enzyme activity) and again the B12 will not be released into the small intestine for transport into the blood stream. Again, if something goes wrong no B12.

In the proximal small intestine, the IF will pick up the freed B12 and transport it to the ileum, where receptors for B12 will wait for it to be transported into the blood stream. IF can transport B12 through the entire ileum and receptors are everywhere in the small intestine.

It seems that calcium ions is an essential mineral for the absorption of B12 into the blood stream.

From normal ingestion of food with B12, the process of absorption might take 3 to 4 hours before is in the blood stream.

As I mentioned before, B12 is the only one that can be stored in the liver for a long time and even years, and it is also found in small amount in kidneys, spleen, bone, heart and brain.

Now if children are vegan from weaning, and they are not given extra B12 supplementation from early age, there is a possibility that the child will be low in B12, which possible serious issues with their growth.

Some of the Function of B12:

  • Co-enzyme for the conversion of homocysteine into methionine.
  • Essential for the maintenance of the protective sheath surrounding nerves, hence, essential for the good function of the nervous system.
  • Has a key role for the making of a healthy red blood cell, hence essential for circulation and healthy blood.
  • Is a co-enzyme for one of the steps in making the ATP, the energy fuel for your cells, in the Kreb cycle, the energy nuclear power, in the mitochondria (where fuel for your body is formed, the CoA mutase).
  • It is part of the making of the serotonin in your body, the feeling good neurotransmitter, hence important for the health of the brain and mood.
  • Essential vitamin for making and repairing of DNA. This is essential for your life, really. The methylation part is an essential step for the DNA building block and the repair of damaged DNA. Without a sufficient B12, the DNA building and repair will be severely disrupted.
  • Supports also the normal function of the immune system. This is done by promoting white blood cells maturation and formation, as well as synthesis of division and replication of the DNA for the immune system.
  • Essential during pregnancy to prevent birth defect, with folate, this promotes cells division and DNA formation of the baby.
  • Essential for the health of the bones, through the synthesis of taurine, an amino acid essential for bone formation. There is also a positive correlation with good amount of B12 function and bone density.
  •  B12 for the eyes, is essential for the myelin sheath of the eyes, reduces dry eyes and reduction of oxidative stress, as well as inflammation.

Tests for B12 deficiency due to IF deficiency is a full blood count, which will measure serum B12 and some active B12.

An anti-intrinsic factor antibody test can be suggested for pernicious anaemia (autoimmune disease) or megaloblastic anaemia (big red blood cell).

Other tests are also recommended with folate as well.

As you have seen from the B12 ingestion, absorption, transportation and life of the B12, this is not just another B vitamin, is an essential vitamin for your health and life.

If you are vegan or you have children that are also vegan, do consider for life to have B12 sublingual supplementation, to make sure that your children will grow well without health issues, and you, yourself, is healthy.

Even as a meat eaters, if you have low stomach acid, or you are taking medication to reduce your stomach acid, if you had a gastric bypass, or you have any issues with digesting your food, pancreatic issues, bile issue, or constant stress, cannot sleep due to stress, have or had a bereavement, moved houses, or changed your lifestyle or you are the last person that you think about, due to overwhelming responsibility, than think about testing for B12 or even take for a while a sublingual B12 with folate if possible.

If you are pregnant and vegan, do take the vitamin, sublingual, as you have seen the long process and possible problems that the normal digestive journey of the B12 is, and possibly in a normal tablet form, will not reach the blood stream due to any of the digestive system problems.