iam a vegetarian which means i dont eat fish or meat or eggs, but i am anemic, will being a vegitarian?

Question

worsen my health

Answer 1

Like most vegetarians you will have an increased chance of having a low intake of certain minerals and vitamins (iron, zinc and B12).

Meats are major sources of iron and zinc in most people's diets, so obviously you will need to address this issue.

Iron is found in two forms in the diet: 1) heme iron in animal products and 2) non-heme iron in plant foods - nuts, dried fruits, leafy green vegetables, whole grains, tofu and diary products. As a vegetarian you will be relying solely on non-heme iron sources.

Non-heme iron must first be hydrolyzed by adequate digestion to separate it from the food proteins and thus allow your gut to absorb it. Adequate amounts of stomach acid are key requirements for this process. Vitamin C aids in the absorption of non-heme iron. It may be a good idea to take a good vitamin C supplement with your meals to aid your absorption of iron.

You may have difficulty getting enough iron with your diet. Therefore, it would be wise to have an annual lab test to be sure you are doing well. If testing shows the need, you can supplement with an iron supplement (again adding vitamin C to aid absorption).

Above I also mentioned zinc and B12 issues. As recommended in 2002 by the Journal of the American Medical Assn., it may be a good idea to take a quality multi-vitamin/mineral supplement every day to be sure you have an adequate supply of these vital nutrients.

(Note: One-A-Day, Centrum, and other 'junk-food vitamin supplements' are not good sources for a variety of reasons). You may want to see a nutrition-oriented health care professional or your local health food store for a quality supplement).

Best wishes and good luck.

Answer 2

I'm afraid that in your case, it will. You see, a great many women become chronically anemic when they begin to ovulate. Absent a decent dietary source of iron, that anemia will worsen and can lead to profound physical impairment and even death.

We thought, until recently, that a dietary supplement would be enough to replace this iron in a woman's body, or that by eating more veggies high in iron, like spinach, would do it. Subsequently, we've learned that nutrition is a LOT more complex than that, and that it's very, very hard indeed to get enough of the vital trace elements, of which iron is but one, without a balanced diet that includes all four food groups, which does contain red meat. That balance is best maintained, we've discovered, naturally and not through fads like vegetarianism.

One of the most alarming recent discoveries is that women who practice veganism - the extreme of which you seem enamored, since you also avoid dairy products - are far more likely to experience serious difficulties trying to get pregnant, and if they do get pregnant, are far more likely to experience serious difficulties during pregnancy, and can produce babies with developmental problems, some of which are profound and irreversible. Why would any woman put their own unborn babies at risk in this manner, for the love of pete?

Answer 3

If your vegetarian diet includes the necessary amount of proteins and iron and calcium you have no reason to be anemic.Your diet must include Milk(skimmed),lots of green veggies,spinach,cereals,pulses,yogurt/curd and so on everyday.

Still ,if you think this doesn't provide you enough nutirents then you can always begin taking dietary supplements that are available in the market after consulting your doctor.

Multivitamin/Calcium/Iron tablets are the most usual forms of supplements that are used by people. Apart from these you can also try supplements like Spirulina available in the market and so many other such new and effective products once your doctor approves their intake.

Apart from this you can also try non-alcoholic health drinks that are available under many brands which will supplement your daily diet and make you healthy.

Dont worry about your condition just consult your doctor and try these things out they must help.

All the best.

Answer 4

If I had to guess I'd say yes it could put you in the danger zone. I've eaten everything all my life and it hasn't hurt me. I think as with most things, moderation is the key. If you're anemic, something's not right, why not try some meat on a regular basis for a few months and see if it makes a change. Besides it tastes good.

Answer 5

Many studies have proven that vegetarianism is a very healthy lifestyle, however in your case you need to check into ways to incorporate more iron into your diet (the darker greens are higher in iron). You can also find organic iron supplements in health food stores.

Answer 6

talk to a nutritionist or doctor because you need to come up with a healthy diet that incorporates the foods you can eat. Meatless diets can contain all the nutrients that you need but you have to make sure you are eating the right things. If you just eat bean burritos from Taco Bell then its going to be a lot worse but if you eat a balanced meal you will stay healthy.

Good luck.

Answer 7

Vegetarians need to be a lot more aware of their diet to make sure that they are getting the right amounts of protein and iron. Vegetarians can have good diets though, you just need to pay attention.

Answer 8

Vegetarians DO eat poultry (fish and chicken) and also eggs...but not meat. A Vegan does not eat anything with a face or anything produced by animals (like eggs, cheese, milk). Anemia is very serious and can even be deadly, so check with your doctor or a nutritionist about a healthy diet plan for you

Answer 9

You need to find a source of iron or yes, your health will be affected. You can take a multi-vitamin with iron.
Or you can eat iron rich foods, and be sure to have Vit C rich foods with them so the iron is absorbed better.

http://www.vnv.org.au/Nutrition/Iron.htm

Answer 10

Just make sure you eat a healthy vegetarian diet, get your iron and protein...you should be fine.

Try the link below, mayo clinic veg diet guide.