What vitamin do vegetarians really lack?

Question

I was thinking it might be vitamin E.

Answer 1

Nope. It's B-12, which can be found in nutritional yeast.

It's important for a vegan to make certain of getting enough B-12. There's quite a good article on getting b-12 here

http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/b12.htm

Neither plants nor animals actually make b-12; it's made by bacteria on plants which are consumed by animals, either second hand by eating prey who eat the plants, or first hand by eating the plants. There are vegan sources of B-12 but a lack of B -12 has been linked to symptoms of multiple sclerosis, so it's important to make certain a vegan gets enough.

There are supplements in some vegan products, often not enough in and of themselves, but the key is being aware, reading labels and supplementing when one needs to.

Answer 2

Vitamins Vegetarians Lack

Answer 3

It can be a little tricky trying to get enough protein but more than anything you might look for a vegitarian source of amino acids. They help you to use the proteins. Also you might use iron skillets and take one a day plus iron which is a multi vitamin. If you do take minerals colloidial minerals would be more effective. It is a liquid formula where the minerals are broken down into very small particals, so small that around 98 percent are absorbed into the lower digestive system and used by the body. Check out www.vitaminshoppe.com The company is a huge group that all other vitamin companies sell through. Also any medical information about a vegitarins special needs and vitamins can be found at www.webmd.com\

Answer 4

B12,as mentioned, is about the only nutrient that vegetarians really need to worry about and if you're still eating dairy and eggs, then even that's not an issue.

There are real health dangers in excess iron consumption and healthy vegetarians are usually getting enough in their diet. I tended very slightly toward iron deficiency even when I ate meat, so I take a vegetarian multiple that has a little iron in it and I'm good to go.

Answer 5

MYTH: "Vegans are at high risk for Vitamin B12 deficiency."

FACT: McDougall: "B12 deficiency is rare… Two kinds have been observed. The more common is due to malabsorption of this vitamin as a consequence of diseased conditions of the stomach or of the small intestine. It has nothing to do with the amount of B12 present in the diet, so it is treated with injections of B12. The other kind of B12 deficiency is found very rarely among people who take essentially no B12 in their diet. Less than a dozen cases of this type of B12 deficiency have been reported among the tens of millions of vegetarians in the world. One reason it's so uncommon is that B12 is made by the bacteria naturally present in the human mouth and intestines.… [In addition,] the average American has stored so much B12 in his body's tissues… that twenty to thirty years must pass before you run out of it." McDougall notes that anyone with concerns about B12 can simply take a supplement on occasion.

MYTH: "Vegetarians get little protein."

FACT: Plant foods offer abundant protein. Vegetables are around 23% protein on average, beans 28%, grains 13%, and even fruit has 5.5%. For comparison, human breast milk is only 5% (designed for the time in our lives when our protein needs are as high as they'll ever be). The US Recommended Daily Allowance is 8%, and the World Health Organization recommends 4.5%. [more on this topic, inc. chart]
MYTH: "Beans are a good source of protein."

FACT: There is no such thing as a special "source of protein" because all foods -- even plants -- have plentiful protein. You might as well say "Food is a good source of protein". In any event, beans (28%) don't average much more protein per calorie than common vegetables (23%). [more on this topic, inc. chart]
MYTH: "Meat protein is better than plant protein. You have to combine plant foods to make the protein just as good."

FACT: This myth was popularized in the 1971 book Diet for a Small Planet and has no basis in fact. The author of the book admitted nearly twenty years ago that she made a mistake (in the 1982 edition of the same book). [more on this topic

Answer 6

It's vitamin B-12 which is mostly only found in animal products, so taking a supplement or multi-vitamin with 100% of B-12 in it is sufficient. Or you can find soy milk with B-12 in it.

Answer 7

It's actually vitamin B12 and iron because meat (particularly red meats) are very high in the two. Take a multivitamin but also nutritional yeast is a very rich source of B12 and lots of iron can be found in leafy greens like spinach, chard or kale.

Answer 8

They lack B 12

Answer 9

None. i've got been a vegetarian for over six years, do no longer take supplementations and have no deficiencies in besides. and that may no longer because of the fact i'm so astounding, it extremely is when you consider which you only get the comparable food on a balanced vegetarian weight loss software as you get on a balanced weight loss software inclusive of meat.

Answer 10

You shouldn't be lacking anything if you're eating a well-balanced diet. It's the junk food type vegetarians that might be missing some important nutrients.