Can someone explain anemia to me?

Question

People always seem to make some sort of connection between anemia and veganism. Someone here had posted a question about being dizzy frequently, and somebody suggested that she might be anemic. I do have frequent dizzy spells that last a minute or so. Plus, I've been really cold lately, and I've been somewhat depressed.

Would this be anemia?

If so, what can I do to prevent it or treat it?

--Also, I've been a vegetarian for a year, and I'm in the process of going vegan.

Answer 1

Anemia means a lack of red blood cells so bad that some of your tissues are starved for oxygen.

Just make sure you get a lot of iron in your diet and that should help a lot. See the end of my answer for some suggestions on foods. Pills and vitamins can provide a good source of iron, but research has shown that we only get half as much value out of pills then we do out of real food. We also are able to get iron better from meat and dairy products than from vegetable sources. Although spinach isn't such a huge source of iron as Popeye thought, if you eat more leafy vegetables then you will increase your iron intake. Then take a lot of Vitamin C and some iron supplements and you should do well. Since humans metabolize animal products better than fruits and vegetables you should also lose some weight.

My oldest sister is a borderline vegetarian, she eats very little meat and dairy, but enough so that it helps with her required intake of animal products. Man was designed/evolved as an omnivore and only animals like cattle and deer are natural vegetarians. We don't have the stomach equipment, the intestinal bacteria, and our body doesn't have all the required enzymes to metabolize only a vegetable diet. That's why cows have 4 stomachs, and they regurgitate some of their meal to chew it more thoroughly (known as chewing their cud). You SHOULD be an omnivore, but the choice is up to you. Just make sure you know that as a vegan you need to eat more to get the same value out of food as omnivores like me do.

According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anemia#Diet_and_anemia
"Anemia (AmE) or anaemia (BrE), from the Greek (Ἀναιμία) meaning "without blood", refers to a deficiency of red blood cells (RBCs) and/or hemoglobin. This results in a reduced ability of blood to transfer oxygen to the tissues, causing hypoxia; since all human cells depend on oxygen for survival, varying degrees of anemia can have a wide range of clinical consequences. Hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying protein in the red blood cells) has to be present to ensure adequate oxygenation of all body tissues and organs.

The three main classes of anemia include excessive blood loss (acutely such as a hemorrhage or chronically through low-volume loss), excessive blood cell destruction (hemolysis) or deficient red blood cell production (ineffective hematopoiesis). In menstruating women, dietary iron deficiency is a common cause of deficient red blood cell production.

Diet and anemia
Consumption of food rich in iron is essential to prevention of iron deficiency anemia; however, the average adult has approximately nine years worth of B12 stored in the liver, and it would take four to five years of an iron-deficient diet to create iron-deficiency anemia from diet alone.

Iron-rich foods include red meat; green, leafy vegetables; beans; dried apricots, prunes, raisins, and other dried fruits; almonds; seaweeds; parsley; whole grains; and yams. In extreme cases of anemia, researchers recommend consumption of beef liver, lean meat, oysters, lamb or chicken, or iron drops/tablets may be introduced. Certain foods have been found to interfere with iron absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, and these foods should be avoided. They include tea, coffee, wheat bran, rhubarb, chocolate, soft drinks, red wine, ice cream, and candy bars (Bauer, 2). With the exception of milk and eggs, animal sources of iron provide iron with better bioavailability than vegetable sources (Scrimshaw).

Treatments for anemia
There are many different treatments for anemia, including increasing dietary intake of readily available iron and iron supplementation; the treatment is determined by the type of anemia that is diagnosed.

If an increase in dietary intake is prescribed, then additionally increasing one's intake of Vitamin C may aid in the body's ability to absorb iron.

In anemia of chronic disease, anemia associated with chemotherapy, or anemia associated with renal disease, some clinicians prescribe a recombinant protein version of erythropoietin, epoetin alfa, to stimulate red blood cell production.

In severe cases of anemia, a blood transfusion may be necessary."

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Most commonly, people with anemia report a feeling of weakness or fatigue, general malaise and sometimes a poor concentration. People with more severe anemia sometimes report shortness of breath. Very severe anemia prompts the body to compensate by increasing cardiac output, leading to palpitations and sweatiness, and to heart failure. Pallor (pale skin, mucosal linings and nail beds) is often a useful diagnostic sign in moderate or severe anemia, but it is not always apparent.
Vegans are potentially at risk for being deficient in several nutrients, such as vitamin B12, vitamin A, iron and iodine. These deficiencies can have potentially serious consequences, including anemia, pernicious anemia, cretinism and hyperthyroidism. Vitamin supplementation is highly recommended for vegans.
All of your symptoms could be a result of anemia. Such a dramatic change in nutrition can be a huge shock to a body. If you are not taking supplements, do so and allow your body to build back up for two or three months. Once this time has passed, or if you are already taking supplements, you may wish to talk to a doctor, as these symptoms could be a sign of something else.

Answer 4

Go to the doctor.

Anemia can be a big deal, we just haven't had to worry about it in wealthier countries for several generations, so we don't realize what a risk it is. It's very preventable, very easy to treat. But potentially very serious. And it is difficult to get enough iron through a vegetarian/vegan diet. It's harder to get enough iron than to get enough protein. A doctor can help you check your levels and decide if you need supplements.

Do NOT go on iron supplements without consulting a doctor. While critical for your health, iron has a relatively low toxicity level. Even if you are uninsured, it's worth paying for the visit (or finding a free clinic).

Iron is used to make red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body. Not enough red blood cells=not enough oxygen. In the USA and GB, we only ever see minor cases of anemia. Major cases of anemia=the brain being starved of oxygen. Very bad. Go to the doctor.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anemia/DS00321/DSECTION=3

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000584.htm

http://www.anemia.com/about_anemia/about_anemia.jsp

Answer 5

Not sure about anemia but you should get yourself checked out anyway. That doesn't sound right.

You can be a perfectly healthy veggie or vegan. Just be very conscious about what you are eating. My friend was veggie for quite a few years and recently was told by her doctor she was anemic. Bad choices.

You should take a veggie/vegan cooking class somewhere. It's helpful to know how to make good decisions.

Cheers and good luck to you!

Answer 6

I very simple blood test can tell you if your anemic. I know fatigue is a symptom. My hemoglobin was quite low when I was pregnant, I think it was 9 when it should be between 12-18 (I'm vegetarian and was when I was pregnant). My doctor told me to take a couple iron supplements everyday, which I did and it went up very quickly. (Warning: Iron supplements can cause constipation).
Also, I'm not sure all iron supplements are vegan so you may want to check at a health food store if your serious about becoming a vegan.
Good luck!

Answer 7

That would be our local V and V troll* with those types of questions then!! He/she claims to know like a thousand vegans He gets a pseudo se***l thrill from winding up Vegans. Anaemia is a low haemoglobin count caused by a shortage of iron in the blood. I can be caussed by numerous things, if you are a girl heavy periods could be a cause. Meat eaters can be anaemic too. If you are not convinced look at this muppet's* other questions!!!
If you eat a well balanced vegan diet this alone would not make you anaemic!!!

Answer 8

Anemia is a blood condition, it is easily treated with Iron tablets; had it for years and will always need to take the tablets; the dizziness should be reported to your Doctor though.There is a possibility it could be something more> call for an appointment. and good luck.

Answer 9

Definitely should be supplementing your diet with iron supplements, check with doc for proper dosage. Also take them with Vit C. this turns the iron ferrous into iron ferrix,(not sure on spelling htere) and helps your body to absorb by 30% more!

Answer 10

Hi,
Anaemia is when your body is short of iron. If you don't eat enough pulses being a vegetarian you will get anaemic, you see because its red meats that carry alot of this mineral. You can buy from chemists a daily suppliment of iron, but i think it is best to see your GP just to make sure that is what is causing your dizziness.

Answer 11

theres alot of different kinds of anemia but urs mostly could be from lack of iron so i suggest u eat more dark green leafy vegtables