Lab Test Results - For A Raw Vegan

Because my Raw Vegan diet does not include dairy, gluten, or any animal products - and consists of dark leafy greens, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and sea vegetables - 'common' thinking dictates that my body is not getting enough of what it needs to survive!

Once a year I visit the doctor to have my bloodwork done and renew my Thyroid prescription - my only medication - and there have been no supplements for many years, with the exception of my personal experiment with B-12 (results below).

After being diagnosed with Hypothyroidism (low thyroid) more than 25 years ago, taking daily medication is part of my routine - the doctor told me I would be taking thyroid pills for life.

But my body's amazing ability to regenerate and heal itself is now showing me something new - this is the third time my thyroid medication has been lowered! Here are the results of my thyroid lab work:

2008 = 125 mcg  /  2009 = 100 mcg  /  2010 = 75 mcg  /  2011 - 75 mcg  /  2012 - 50 mcg

At my yearly physical, mammograms, pap smears, and colonoscopy tests are declined by me - my doctor laughingly calls me the one who doesn't want any tests! But this time I requested to have my B-12 tested also, although they only test from bloodwork. Here is the result of my B-12 lab work:

B-12 = 241 pmol/L (150 - 220 pmol/L = low probability of symptomatic deficiency)

Now for MY PERSONAL B-12 experiment! 
I decided to do my own trial, and up to this point I had only ever taken one bottle of B-12 a year or more ago. But to discover what my body would tell me, I decided to test it out for myself. I bought a bottle of 1000 mcg B-12 Methylcobalamin (instead of the cheaper synthetic form, Cyanocobalamin) that dissolves under the tongue and started taking one per day.

Then after watching a video on B-12 on the Internet, I purchased a package of B-12 strips (1,000 mcg Methylcobalamin) that are dissolved on the tongue and swallowed once a day. I stopped taking the bottled pills while doing my trial with B-12 strips.

DAY 1  B-12 strips - A canker on the end of my tongue!
DAY 2  B-12 strips - The strip burned my tongue! (Felt like drinking something so hot it burned my tongue, with my tongue remaining tender into the next day.)

This ENDED my test of B-12 under the tongue strips! To be fair, these B-12 strips had ingredients not in my B-12 pills which could have caused my reaction - but what I did discover was that they were not for me. I went back onto the B-12 pills for another week and then stopped taking B-12.

Time passed, and since I needed to renew my thyroid pills, it was off to the doctor for my yearly tests. My testing was done on March 16, 2012 with the results in bold above.

Now keeping in mind that I have been eating mostly raw foods and drinking Green Smoothies since 2005 - I have to wonder about the connection! For me the result is in the pudding - and I guess that means me. So how do I feel without B-12 supplements? Well I am not exhibiting any symptoms like poor blood sugar control, nervous system disfunction, depression, poor memory, shakiness; I have had lab tests done; and I am feeling good!

Remember this was my own personal experiment - I am not a licensed medical professional - and am not making any recommendations, either for or against, taking B-12 supplementation! Each individual's body and diet are unique to that individual, and they should follow what feels right for them. What works for me, may not work for another!

So once again, it comes down to MY same old question:  Is optimum health really about external influences like food, medication, environment - or does our attitude truly have a direct effect upon our health? All I know for sure is that life is a delicately woven web with many possibilities - and I remain open!