Little Helpers for Big Heros

It’s May 26, 1940 and Hitler is coming to annihilate 340,00 British troops cornered on the coast of Dunkirk, France.  King George VI bends his knee in Westminster Abbey and admonishes his subjects to cry out to God for mercy along with him.  Without the ensuing “Miracle of Deliverance”, as Churchill put it, who knows what the outcome would have been of the war itself?  One part of that sought after miracle was a fleet of 700 yachts, fishing boats and other small, privately owned vessels which sailed across the channel to carry soldiers from the French beach to their warships farther out to sea.  Many of the little boats arrived to find jittery soldiers who had been standing for hours chest high in the water waiting to be ferried to safety.

Those same rescued soldiers were vital players in the final Allied victory, but at Dunkirk their protective powers hung in a balance between an advancing enemy bent on absolute destruction and their need to escape the trap they were in. You can read a more detailed and inspiring story about the rescue here, but I want to take advantage of the picture it leaves in our minds to describe another life -giving transport that happens inside our bodies daily.

B12 SUSTAINS LIFE
Vitamin B12 is essential for the formation of red blood cells, DNA, the developing spinal cord and for metabolizing fats and carbohydrates in the cells. (1)  Basically life is impossible to sustain without it. 

INTRINSIC FACTOR
The vitamin B12 molecule is so large that it cannot be absorbed into the large intestine alone, so it relies on the help of a protein molecule called “instrinsic factor” to be absorbed into your system.  Instrinsic literally grabs vitamin B12 and together they sail through the small intestine to the large intestine where intrinsic is absorbed while still clutching tightly to B12. (2)  Remind you of anything you’ve heard recently? British troops and B12 helped by little boats and intrinsic factor?  I hope I didn’t lose you, but you see, pictures give me a place to hang information that would otherwise be lost.

ANIMAL PRODUCTS ONLY NATURAL SOURCE
The only sources of vitamin B12 are animal products like meat, fish, eggs and milk.  Another source for vegetarians and vegans is a synthetic form of B12 used to fortify breakfast cereals.  “A day’s supply of vitamin B12 can be obtained by eating 1 chicken breast plus 1 hard-boiled egg plus 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt, or 1 cup milk plus 1 cup raisin bran.” (3)

Sometimes meat gets a bad rap, but I’m glad to know more about its absolutely essential role in amino acid building projects which sustain our physical life.  Next week I’ll focus the lens in more closely on the work of B12 inside your body.  Enjoy a good dose for yourself this week in Beef and Bean Pie, Vegetable Chicken Pasta and Chicken Salad.

Also, see my rose pictures from a La Jolla excursion at the blog address below.  We have an awesome Creator!

Molly

(1) & (2)  http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=107

(3)  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vitamin-B12/NS_patient-vitaminb12

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither Orange Tree Lane or any of its affiliates take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.