What Is Cobalt & What Foods Can I Find It In?
Cobalt is an ultratrace mineral and an essential macronutrient. But it’s a relatively rare element.
An adult human body contains about 1 mg of cobalt, 85% of which is in the form of vitamin B12.
It’s the cobalamin that is measured in foods. Other cobalt content in foods is not well documented.
Cobalamin deficiency is very common among vegetarians, vegans, and other plant-eating populations because the easiest way to consume cobalt is from animal sources.
Table of Contents
Cobalt Is Essential
Cobalt is an essential mineral. It is important for the health of ruminant animals.
Bacteria in the stomachs of ruminants transform cobalt into cobalamin, which is the form of cobalt that humans need.
Cobalamin is more known by the name vitamin B12. (source ◳)
You can find benefits of cobalt in Cobalt, Co: 5 Research-Backed Benefits .
Deficiency Of Cobalt
Strict vegetarians and vegans have long been known to be at risk of cobalamin deficiency, which develops slowly over many years. (source ◳)
Because natural food sources of cobalamin are limited to animal foods. (source ◳)
Symptoms of cobalamin deficiency are anemia, fatigue, weakness, constipation, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Even neurological changes like tingling in the hands and feet, difficulty maintaining balance, depression, confusion, and poor memory. (source ◳)
Foods You Can Find Cobalt, Co In
You find Cobalt, Co mostly in legume products.
Examples of food sources include
- Dry Light Tan Beans
- Dry Red Beans
- Dry Brown Beans
- Dry Medium Red Beans
Foods That Contain Cobalt, Co In Our Nutrition Tool
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Here's our top ranked list of foods that contain Cobalt, Co.