Get Smarter—find out which foods pack the most vitamin B12, an essential nutrient that boosts brainpower.
Find out which foods pack the most vitamin B12.
Shrinkage doesn’t just happen at the pool. It can also take place inside your skull, especially when your brain lacks sufficient vitamin B12. The RDA is 900 mcg for men. A deficiency of this essential nutrient can cause significant drops in gray matter volume, which has been linked to memory loss.
And even your doctor may not be able to tell that it’s happening. According to a new Rush University Medical Center study, low B12 levels often go undetected in blood tests. In fact, even when blood levels of the vitamin appeared normal, between 15 percent and 17 percent of people they studied weren’t absorbing enough of the vitamin and had serious deficiencies. But don’t worry your possibly-shrinking head too much—just include any of our top-five B12-packed foods listed here and never get accused of being small-minded again.
Lamb Liver
B12 punch per serving: 65 mcg
Can’t find any in the market? Beef, veal, moose, and goose liver are also good sources.
Steamed Pacific Oysters
B12 punch per serving: 24 mcg
Look for smaller oysters, which are generally more tender.
Mussels
B12 punch per serving: 20 mcg
Chilling fresh mussels in the freezer for an hour beforehand will make them easier to open.
Salted Mackerel
B12 punch per serving: 10 mcg
Cook fillets with olive oil, garlic, and lemon, and serve with red wine to bring out the flavor.
Steamed Clams
B12 punch per serving: 84 mcg
Dip them in a sauce made from the juices they cooked in and a bit of fresh lemon.
Shrinkage doesn’t just happen at the pool. It can also take place inside your skull, especially when your brain lacks sufficient vitamin B12. The RDA for men is 900 mcg.
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Brain Foods - Best Sources of Vitamin B12