"b12" news and stories

Steak salad. Photo: Jennifer Iserloh

OK, I'll admit, I'm a fan of the HBO series "True Blood," but not for the reason most fans like it -- the sexy drama, gorgeous vampires and loads of gore. Watching it is a real break from cooking -- the mental and physical side. After all, you can't cook for a vampire!

I was recently thinking back to an episode when Bill Compton had his first bite with Sookie, cautioning her to take an extra dose of B vitamins. Well, I think that's good advice for all of us, because B vitamins -- especially B-12 -- support the production of red blood cells and prevent anemia.

If you're vegetarian or happen to have type 2 diabetes, you're probably not getting enough, but there's good news: You can get it from yogurt and milk, about four servings a day to get good levels of B12. If you are carnivorous like our friend Bill Compton, then your best sources are calf's liver, snapper, venison, scallops and shrimp -- or even a piece of beef tenderloin, one of my favorite cuts of beef -- and it's even low in fat.