B12

Vitamin B12 is a very important vitamin that helps with a number of functions in the body, from maintaining heart health to providing a boost of energy. However, like any vitamin or nutrient, you can have low levels of B12 and there will be health consequences.

Combine age with certain prescription medications (i.e., for heartburn) and a lack of meat in your diet (i.e., especially for vegetarians or vegans) and you could find yourself sorely lacking vitamin B12. Thankfully, there are a number of steps that you can take to deal with a diagnosed vitamin B12 deficiency.

As we age, we tend to forget the importance of making vitamins a central part of our diets. The end result is often less-than-healthy diets that lack the vitamins and mineral our bodies crave, even at middle age. That’s why it’s worthwhile to go through a refresher every now and then — so, what vitamins are the most important and how can you get them in your diet?

Regardless of if you’re already pregnant or trying to conceive, popping daily prenatal vitamins can help keep you and baby healthy in various ways—by lessening instances of morning sickness and nausea during the first trimester, by filling in gaps in your diet, and by supporting your body from conception through to a healthy delivery.