A deficiency usually begins gradually with elevated homocysteine levels, which do not pose a threat to younger people, but can be a leading indicator of serious cardiovascular problems in older people. The earliest noticeable symptoms include digestive problems, lack of appetite, nausea and unusual fatigue. The problem with these symptoms is that they may be attributable to many different causes, so people at risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency should pay special attention. Women get a more alarming early warning signal: a loss of menstruation; which should be enough to alert her that something is wrong.

More advanced physical symptoms of a Vitamin B12 deficiency include: diarrhea; erectile disorder (in men); fever; frequent upper respiratory infections; hyperactive reflexes; increased bleeding; infertility (in women); macrocytic anemia; nervousness; numbness; sore tongue; and tingling of the hands and feet. Once a deficiency gets bad enough there are also usually mental symptoms as well such as: impaired memory, mild depression; paranoia; and significant behavioral changes.

Worst of all though are the neurological symptoms, most of which are described as subacute combined degeneration (SCD). The physical symptoms include: assorted mental problems (apathy, confusion, dementia, depression, irritability); impaired movement (awkward, clumsy, or stiff); impaired vision; insomnia; loss of balance; physical weakness; speech impairment (not common); unusual sensations (tingling, numbness). The real problem with SCD is that if it is not detected and treated quickly enough, it can result in permanent damage. Therefore the neurological aspect of a Vitamin B12 deficiency is usually considered the primary concern as the other symptoms are easily reversible.  Regardless, getting supplemental B vitamin shots can be the solution.

Goji Berry
The goji berry, also known as the wolfberry, is a fruit native to southeastern Europe  and Asia. As with many exotic berries, the goji berry is only available in the west as a juice or as a dried fruit because of the perish-ability of the raw fruit. Many of the ‘goji berry juices’ in the market are often mixed with a lot of other fruits juices and are often marketed or labelled disingenuously. Be sure to check labels thoroughly, if you want a 100% pure goji juice. The real deal is more expensive and comes at about $50 a bottle.

The nutritional profile of the goji berry is an impressive one. 100g of the dried fruit will provide you with 100% of the DRI (dietary reference intake) of vitamin B2, vitamin C and iron. It also contains 18 different amino acids and is a great source of  unsaturated fats such as linoleic acid and alpha-linoleic acid. What really raises the goji berry up to the title of a super fruit is its excellent content of antioxidant carotenoids. It contains some of the more well researched and powerful of carotenoids like beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene and cryptoxanthin.

Noni Berry
The noni berry is the newest on the health scene of the exotic super berries, even though it has been used as a staple healthy food in some pacific islands for 2000 years or more. Hawaii, Malaysia and Tahiti are among the main islands were the noni plant grows. Like the other exotic super berries, noni has been taken under the wing by marketers as a cure for just about every ailment, and is also marketed as an aid for weight loss. I am not so sure about all the hype it gets, but with its impressive array of antioxidants it is sure to help protect us from degenerative disease like cancer and heart disease.

The noni berry is a great source of vitamins and mineral such as vitamin C, potassium, niacin and  iron. It is also a good source of vitamin A and calcium. Its very impressive antioxidant phytochemical content includes lignans, catechins, iridoids, damnacanthals and alkaloids.

Acai Berry
The acai berry is the most famous and most popular (at least in regards to acai product sales) of the exotic berries. It is grown in the amazonian marsh lands were it is a popular high energy food for the locals. One of the unique factors of the acai berry is its exceptionally high content of healthy fats – for a fruit. To read more about the nutritional profile and antioxidants found in the acai berry visit acai berry juice .

Within its thick and viscous syrup, maple is said to be at least 3 x more sweeter than sugar cane. Maple syrup is a consequence of the sap of the maple tree. Regardless of the fact almost anyone would most frequently believe that the sap is already the organic Canadian maple syrup itself, however it is not the truth. Barely a tiny percent of the sap is created from of the actual syrup and it takes a long process before the genuine maple syrup is generally extracted. That is quite possibly one of many reasons why a container or bottle of maple syrup is far from being cheap.

Then how nourishing can maple syrup really be? It is full of vitamins, especially vitamin B12 which is often known as riboflavin. Beyond its sugar content, it is the vitamin B12 that works to make the maple syrup an exceptional source of energy. It enhances our body’s metabolism, leading to more efficient and more rapidly burning up of energy. Maple syrup also has zinc, which significantly supports speeding up the restorative process specifically with open wounds. It is also full of the mineral, manganese, which is a fantastic antioxidant. This makes maple syrup an immunity booster and supports the body fight off the harsh free radicals which could wreck havoc to our cells. These and many more other properties give to the belief that maple syrup is mostly extremely healthy and natural food. Turn it into a per day practice to consume maple sugar and to alternate it with using regular sugar every once in a while.