Summary: <p>Today I’m going to share one of the most ignored causes of numb hands and feet or a pins and needles sensation in the hands and feet. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Myelin is the coating around the nervous system, and it allows nerve impulses to travel. Without enough myelin, you may experience paresthesia or abnormal sensations. </p> <p><br></p> <p>One cause of numb hands and feet is diabetes. A thiamine deficiency may also be involved because it’s needed to make myelin. Taking fat-soluble thiamine (benfotiamine) and changing your diet may help improve this situation. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Another big cause of numbness in the hands is a vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency is very common. </p> <p><br></p> <p>The loss of myelin commonly occurs in the cervical spine (neck), and the degeneration can lead to various problems throughout the body. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Other symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency:</p> <p> • An imbalance in your gait </p> <p> • Urinary retention or bladder problems </p> <p> • Problems in the feet </p> <p> • Shooting pain in the spine when moving your head down </p> <p> • Neck stiffness </p> <p><br></p> <p>One of the biggest causes of a vitamin B12 deficiency is a loss of stomach acid, which can happen with age. Without enough stomach acid, you can’t absorb vitamin B12. Betaine hydrochloride can help acidify the stomach and increase B12 absorption. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Other causes of low vitamin B12: </p> <p> • A lack of vitamin B12 in the diet </p> <p> • Antacids</p> <p> • Metformin </p> <p> • A certain genetic weakness</p> <p> • Inflammation in the stomach or intestines </p> <p> • Gastric bypass surgery </p> <p><br></p> <p>You may need to go beyond consuming foods rich in vitamin B12 and take it as a supplement. In my opinion, the best supplement would be methylcobalamin. </p> <p><br></p> <p>If you have a genetic issue, you may need a supplement that contains methylcobalamin, methylfolate, and vitamin B6. </p>
