B complex vitamins consist of eight different water-soluble vitamins necessary for the development of healthy cells and tissues. These vitamins are vitamin B1, (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B7 (biotin), vitamin B9 (folic acid) and vitamin B12 (cobalamin).

B complex vitamins are vital for optimum health, and many people cannot get the minimum daily requirements of one or more B vitamins in their diet. A deficiency in one or more B vitamins can be dangerous, resulting in diseases of the nervous system, impaired growth in children, depression and memory loss.

Feeling good is one of the pathways to looking good, and we offer vitamin B supplement injections that can provide you with nutrients your body needs to look and feel refreshed.

We offer B complex (a combination of all B vitamins) and B 12 injections at  Windermere Pharmacy in addition to homoeopathic injections( T& C’s exist)

B 12 injections are important for many reasons. Cobalamin (another name for vitamin B 12) helps the human body to develop red blood cells and grow tissues.  An adequate level of B 12 improves cognitive function and forms Myelin, a fatty substance that protects nerve cells (call it the nerve insulation). B complex vitamins and B 12, in particular, are vital to everyone’s health, yet there’s an epidemic of B 12 deficiency in South Africa today.

There are a number of reasons for B 12 deficiency. Excessive alcohol consumption and certain prescription medications can cause a low level of B 12. The elderly and people with Crohn’s disease are also prone to a vitamin B 12 deficiency due to an inability to absorb the vitamin. Vegans and vegetarians need to supplement their diets with B 12 injections since vitamin B 12 is derived from meat, fish, poultry and animal-based products only. Regular B 12 or B complex injections will be needed to maintain a healthy level of B vitamins since B 12 is not found in any plant-based foods.

Here are some of the benefits of B 12 injections:

1. If you’ve been diagnosed with pernicious anaemia, a weeklyB12injection will lessen fatigue, shortness of breath and depression caused by this condition
2. For people who constantly feel run-down and depressed, but haven’t been diagnosed with either anaemia or clinical depression, a vitamin B 12 injection may increase energy levels, elevate your mood, and may help to prevent full-fledged anaemia or depression.
3. A B 12 injection will improve nervous system function and heart health. B 12helps clear out arteries, and it can help improve overall heart function when used in tandem with a healthy diet and exercise.

B complex  Vitamins boost energy, minimize migraine symptoms, improve nervous system function, and promote healthy pregnancies. Side effects are rare.  B complex injections are normally administered in 0.25 to 2 mL dosages, according to information on the National Library of Medicine website.

Here are some additional positive effects of B complex vitamins

1. All B vitamins, especially B1, B2 and B3, aid the digestive system and help produce hydrochloric acid. HCL helps break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats, decreasing digestive problems.

2. B Vitamins are essential for healthy, vibrant hair, nails and skin. They help prevent premature grey hair and wrinkles by ensuring proper cell reproduction and RNA (Ribonucleic acid) and DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) synthesis. If you suffer from fingernails that split and break easily, this may be due to aB complex A B complex injection can also reduce the formation of acne, greasy skin, dandruff and other skin and hair problems.

3. B Complex vitamins improve concentration and memory. They help break down Homocysteine, an amino acid that causes toxicity in nerve cells, and they also protect neurons in the brain. Vitamin B9 (folic acid) may help slow the effects of age on memory and lessen the chance of Alzheimer’s disease...

B 12 and B complex pills take a long time to absorb into your system. If you’re low on B complex or B 12 vitamins, an injection will produce quicker results. An intramuscular B Vitamin injection in the arm or the buttock enters the bloodstream directly, increasing your energy in a matter of hours or days instead of weeks. (The amount of time it takes to see an improvement varies from person to person.)

B complex and B 12 injections are quick, rather like getting a flu shot. The B 12 injection dosage varies from person to person, often beginning with a few thousand micrograms and tapering off as treatment continues and the body builds up its B and B 12 levels. Side effects are rare but may include nausea and headaches.

Contact us to learn more about how a B complex or B 12 injections can boost your energy and contribute to your overall health.

WINDERMERE PHARMACY AND HEALTH CENTRE, in conjunction with our Clinic, offers the Vitamin B12 and Vitamin B complex injections. Our Primary Care Practitioner will assess your requirements and advise on the doses required if necessary. Since all Vitamin B Injections require a prescription, we will advise you on the process.

Our in-house General Practitioner Dr VV Panday is on hand to Advise and prescribe as well.

What is listeriosis?

Listeriosis is food poisoning caused by eating foods contaminated with the Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) bacterium found in soil and water.

What causes listeriosis?

Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil or from manure used as fertilizer. Animals can carry the bacteria and can contaminate meats and dairy products. Processed foods, such as soft cheeses and cold cuts, can be contaminated after processing. Unpasteurized (raw) milk or foods made from unpasteurized milk can be contaminated.

What are the symptoms?

• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Sometimes nausea
• Diarrhoea

If the infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as

• A headache
• Stiff neck
• Confusion
• Loss of balance
• Convulsions can occur

NB: But infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness.

How is listeriosis diagnosed?

Listeriosis is diagnosed based on a medical history and physical exam. Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms, foods you have recently eaten, and your work and home environments. A blood test or spinal fluid test may be done to confirm the diagnosis.

How is it treated?

An otherwise healthy person who is not pregnant typically does not need treatment. Symptoms will usually go away within a few weeks.

If you are pregnant and get listeriosis, antibiotics can often prevent infection of the fetus or newborn. Babies who have listeriosis receive the same antibiotics as adults, although a combination of antibiotics is often used until your doctor is certain the cause is listeriosis.

How can you prevent listeriosis?

• Shop safely. Bag raw meat, poultry, or fish separately from other food items.
• Prepare foods safely and properly.
• Wash your hands before and after handling food. Also, wash them after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
• Wash fresh fruits and vegetables by rinsing them well with running water.
• If possible, use two cutting boards-one for fresh produce and the other for raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
• You can also wash your knives and cutting boards in the dishwasher to disinfect them.
• Store foods safely. Cook, refrigerate, or freeze meat, poultry, eggs, fish, and ready-to-eat foods within 2 hours. Make sure your refrigerator is set at 40°F (4°C) or colder.
• Be aware of the risk of food poisoning from raw fish (including sushi), clams, and oysters.
• Serve foods safely. Keep cooked hot foods hot [140°F (60°C) or above] and cold foods cold [40°F (4°C) or below].
• Follow labels on food packaging. Food packaging labels provide information about when to use the food and how to store it. Reading food labels and following safety instructions will reduce your chance of becoming ill with food poisoning.When in doubt, throw it out. If you are not sure whether a food is safe, don't eat it. Reheating food that is contaminated will not make it safe. Don't taste suspicious food. It may smell and look fine but still may not be safe to eat.

If you are pregnant:

• Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, or deli meats, unless they are reheated until steaming hot.
• Do not eat soft cheeses unless the label states they are made from pasteurized milk. Common cheeses typically made with unpasteurized milk-such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined cheeses, and Mexican-style cheeses such as "queso blanco fresco"-can cause listeriosis. You can have hard cheeses and semisoft cheeses such as mozzarella along with pasteurized processed cheese slices and spreads, cream cheese, and cottage cheese.
• Do not eat refrigerated pâté or meat spreads. But you can eat these foods if they are canned.
• Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood unless it is an ingredient in a cooked dish such as a casserole. Examples of refrigerated smoked seafood include salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna, and mackerel. You may eat canned fish such as salmon and tuna or shelf-stable smoked seafood.
• Do not drink unpasteurized milk or eat foods that contain unpasteurized milk.
• Avoid eating salads made in a store, such as ham, chicken, egg, tuna, or seafood salads.

Raw Fruits and Vegetables

Listeria bacteria can contaminate fresh produce, like cantaloupes, as well as some processed foods, like cheeses. Symptoms of infection include fever, muscle aches, upset stomach, or diarrhoea -- occurring 2 days to 2 months after exposure.
Safety: Scrub raw produce and dry before cutting. Store in the fridge below 40 F. Clean everything in contact with a whole melon.

Unpasteurized Dairy

Dairy products made with raw milk, including yoghurt and soft cheeses like Brie, feta, and Mexican queso, can harbour listeria. Because listeria can live at colder temperatures, simply refrigerating these foods won't kill the bacteria. People at highest risk of getting sick include the elderly, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.
Safety: Check the label. Make sure it's clearly marked "pasteurized."

Deli Meats and Hot Dogs

Sometimes listeria finds its way into a food processing factory, where it can live for years. Heat kills listeria, but contamination may happen after cooking, but before packaging -- for example, if a food is placed back on a counter that had raw meat on it.
Safety: Never keep pre-cooked or ready-to-eat foods past their use-by date. Heat hot dogs and lunch meats until steaming (165 F) before eating