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If ever there was a cure-all, vitamin B12 is it.
Why?
Because B12 go es way beyond skin deep. True, it helps combat dry hair, skin and nails, but it does more than that. B12 has an effect on:
- Energy levels
- Mood
- Immunity
- Bone density
- Weight loss
It’s the secret potion that will get you glowing from the inside out.
Weekly B12 shots are complimentary for OVME’s Elite Members.
We spoke with OVME Director of Education and Development Elizabeth Weiler to get all the need-to-knows about vitamin B12.
Let’s break it down—what exactly is B12?
B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential for your body’s maintenance of blood and nerve cells. It has a lot of important functions, such as:
- Helping make DNA, the instruction manual your cells use to carry out their normal functions
- Playing a vital role in bone health and density
- Producing serotonin, a chemical responsible for regulating your mood
But there’s a catch.
“The tricky thing about vitamin B12 is that unlike other types of vitamins, it’s not stored in our body,” Weiler says. “For that reason you need a constant inflow to maintain healthy levels of it.”
Enter: OVME’s B12 Shots.
“A B12 shot is the most efficient way to get the vitamin,” Weiler says, adding that many people, especially vegetarians, struggle to get a healthy dose through their diet, since it’s found mostly in animal-based products. “A B12 shot goes directly into your muscle when we inject it, so you don’t have to send it through the whole digestive system. Because we don’t get much B12 from our diets and our bodies don’t store it, it’s ideal to have these injections once a week.”
Luckily, that’s easy to do. OVME members can just drop in—the procedure takes less than a minute, doesn’t hurt, and requires no special care afterward. The proof is in the pudding: “I get a B12 shot every time I’m in the studio,” Weiler says.
So, what are the benefits?
“The benefits of B12 are almost endless,” Weiler says.
Here are some examples:
- Adequate levels are needed for promoting healthy hair, skin and nails—so B12 will play a supporting role if you’re trying to grow your hair
- Mood stabilization
- “Stress can take a toll on your immunity functions, and B12 helps to boost your immune function,” Weiler says. “Who isn’t interested in that right now?”
- B12 can even help you on your weight-loss journey. The vitamin helps metabolize carbohydrates and regulate energy. “It’s more effective than a temporary infusion of energy from a dose of caffeine—say, from your Starbucks,” Weiler explains. “Caffeine is going to offer hyperdrive and then a slump. B12 fights fatigue at the source and creates energy precursors, unlike caffeine.”
On the other end of the spectrum, a vitamin B12 deficiency has adverse effects—think hypopigmentation, fatigue, mood changes, and slower metabolization of fats and carbohydrates (which directly affects your ability to burn calories). “The good news is you can never have too much B12, because your body do esn’t hang onto it; you’ll just excrete out what you don’t need,” Weiler says. “So it’s not dangerous to have a B12 supplement even if you’re not deficient.”
Does B12 pair well with any other OVME treatments?
The short answer: yes.
“A lot of our a esthetic treatments create a controlled injury to stimulate your body into a repair process,” Weiler says. “Since B12 helps boost immunity and supports the maintenance and repair process of cells, it just makes sense that it would support almost any of our treatments.”
Her top recommendations for pairing:
OK, so are the effects immediate?
“B12 is known to be cumulative, so once you’ve done it for 3-4 weeks, you’ll start to see more of those benefits,” Weiler says. “A lot of our clients feel they’re sleeping much better and they’ve got boosted energy the following day. Our B12 shots are a really efficient dose, so it makes sense that they feel something in the first day or two—but if you can do it consistently throughout the year and keep your B12 store stable, that would be ideal.”
Weiler adds that while B12 is an evergreen supplement, it can be especially helpful during times of high-stress. “Everyone could use an immune boost when they’re more stressed out,” she says. “If you know you have a busy season at work coming up, that’s a good time to do it.”
Ready to glow?
Check out OVME’s menu of B12 shot cocktails:
The Boost
Benefits: This most basic B12 shot improves energy levels and optimizes adrenal function to help the body manage stress. Oh, and did we mention it’s free for OVME members?
Ingredients: B12, B5, Amino Acid
The Skinny
Benefits: This B12 booster will support your weight loss journey by improving metabolic function.
Ingredients: B12, B6, Methionine, Inositol, Choline, L-Carnitine
Immune Booster
Benefits: Seasonal depression hitting hard? This upgrade elevates mood due to seasonal changes, supports immune function during the sick season and improves bone density.
Ingredients: B12, B5, Vitamin C
Pain Relief
Benefits: If you’re sore after a workout, stop in for this B12 shot. It naturally relieves muscles and helps ease other aches and pains.
Ingredients: B12, B6, Magnesium
Barre Babe
Benefits: Similar to the Pain Relief booster, this B12 cocktail will improve muscle recovery—but it also enhances your fitness performance from the get-go.
Ingredients: B12, B5, Raurine, L-Carnitine
Detoxifying Cleanse
Benefits: Maybe the only time a cocktail can be cleansing. This booster clears toxins from the body and prevents free radical damage—which, in turn, helps prevent the visible signs of aging.
Ingredients: B12, B6, Glutathione, Methionine, Inositol, Choline
