I am a new vegetarian and I need help!?

Question

Hi! I haven't eaten any meat since the first of the year - I am very happy without it and won't be going back to eating meat - my body feels much healthier - but the problem is that I am now tired ALL the time, I am starting to get leg cramps, I am moody and I have been getting a lot of headaches....since I am no longer eating meat what foods or supplements should I make sure I am getting to get rid of these symptoms?

(I am 21, healthy, female and not pregnant)

Thanks!

Answer 1

21, healthy, NOT PREGNANT? Am I dreaming?

Iron, little one. Get your daily recommended allowance of iron. Protein you can get with beans. Veggie refried in a whole wheat tortilla.

But take your vitamins and be a star amongst the masses.

~

Answer 2

It takes the body a while to get used to the new diet. Your body is also getting rid of the meat toxins so the headaches might be caused by this and sometimes some symptoms can be a positive sign. Just make sure that your diet is balanced and that you are not lacking any nutrients and that you have enough protein which gives you energy. Look into Luna bars, make yourself some rice protein smoothie shake in the morning...
It is a good idea to take a vegetarian friendly multivitamin, B12, Vitamin B complex is also very good some vitamin C if you lack energy. But you do not need to take iron if you are not iron deficient. Better do a blood work.
You should try to do some reading on the vegetarian diet such as becoming vegetarian. At first my diet was really poor and now with experience and educating myself, I have a more balanced diet and feel much better, I have more energy...

Answer 3

Sounds like the cramps could be related to B vitamin and/or potassium deficiency. The moodiness can also be because of not enough omega 3 fats, which are found in flax, evening primrose, hemp, and olive oils. Maybe emphasize these instead of other oils such as canola, sunflower, or safflower. I would reccomend a multivitamin whole foods based supplement that is also vegetarian, such as Rainbow Light, New Chapter Organics or Super Nutrition. Ideally, you wouldn't need these because your diet would provide enough. My problem when I was first vegetarian was that I was the macaroni and cheese type who ate very few fruits and vegetables. Also too many white breads and not enough whole grains. Make sure you are getting enough protein from sources such as legumes, tempeh, tofu ( some like seitan but I don't like how gluten makes me feel), nuts and seeds, and if you eat eggs and dairy, then cheese, eggs, cottage cheese, etc. A vegetarian diet can be quite healthy if done right. Last, you may want to consider getting tested for anemia. If your iron levels are low, you need to increase iron intake through foods and /or supplements, but keep in mind that plant-sourced iron is not as absorbable by the body as is that from meat, but taking plant iron with vitamin C seems to increase how much is absorbed.

Answer 4

Congrats on your new life style. You've made a huge change in your life, and your system is taking a little while to adjust. You'll need to plan your diet a little more carefully than in the past to be sure you get enough protein and that you compliment the protein with nutrients that will help your system make the best use of the proteins you eat.

When you stop eating animal protein (so politely called "meat"), your body has to get more efficient in its use of proteins from other sources. You can help it by eating protein rich sources.

Since you've said you're vegetarian and didn't specifically say "vegan," I'm going to respond as though you're still open to eating eggs, cheese, and other dairy products. These are an excellent source of protein, calcium, and important vitamins and minerals. In the vegan category, nuts and legumes (dried beans, peas, etc) are a good sources. Whole grain breads, leafy greens, potatoes, and even corn help as well. Eat a good variety of these so that you get a full range of healthy nutrients.

When you don't get a good balance of protein, your muscle mass decreases. This could be the source of your cramps.

Other nutrients to watch are iron, calcium, and Vitamin B12.

Low iron can make you very tired. Good iron sources are: dried fruits, baked potatoes, mushrooms, cashews, dried beans, spinach, chard, tofu, bulgur (a type of wheat), and iron-fortified foods.

Low Vitamin B12 counts can lead to both exhaustion and cramps. The best sources of this are eggs and dairy (milk) products. You can also get it in fortified foods such as cereal, soymilk, nutritional yeast, and tofu. Adults really don't need a lot of B12; if these foods are not part of your pallet, a vitamin supplement may be helpful. Read the labels on foods and especially on supplements. Not everything is what it appears to be.

Finally, stay physically active. Keep your muscles healthy by using them. Keep your bones strong with strength building exercise.

Be well!

Answer 5

It could not be because you are a vegetarian. But did you try finding out how nutritious your veg diet is? Are there enough vitamins and salts? Are there good carbs? First analyze this and then try and balance your food. Taken in a lot fruits which are farm fresh. Avoid taking synthetic vitamins to supplement. Or the cramps could be due to a totally different reason. This could be because of muscle fatigue or dehydration. Try exercising all parts of your body. It also sometimes is due to disuse atrophy. Try out some home remedies. You can also look for information in the web that give you home remedies. I found this website very useful. http://aches.in/cramps.html

Answer 6

Congrats on eliminating the meat! Sounds like you need to make sure you're getting the recommended amount of protein from soy and vegetable sources (around 45 grams for women). Also, you should be taking a good vegetarian multivitamin with iron (I recommend Deva or NOW brands).

Also, your symptoms sound exactly like the symptoms of dehydration. Indoor heat in the winter can suck the water right out of you! Make sure you're drinking plenty of water throughout the day, and when I say water I mean WATER. No soda, and avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages as they will further dehydrate you.

VeggieBoards is a GREAT forum site for all kinds of vegetarians and vegans (and raw foodists), ESPECIALLY new ones. They have a special forum JUST for new vegetarians, where many people ask questions about how to deal with unsupportive parents (scientific fact sheets to show them, how do answer their "concerned questions", etc.), how to learn about nutrition so you stay healthy (always take a veg multi with B 12 - you'll end up healthier and more knowledgeable about nutrition than most meat eaters if you learn what your body needs), and how to handle all kinds of social situations. And we have all the answers! VeggieBoards also has great forums for cooking and recipes, brand reviews, and pretty much everything else conceivable that pertains to being veg*n! Welcome to our wonderful world of compassionate possibilities!

Come join us! - http://www.veggieboards.com

Answer 7

You have a lot of good advise and support here.
It happens though sometimes that a vegetarian will throw off protein in their urine.
You might benefit from a simple test to see if this is your problem. See your doctor to rule this out. If this is happening and you don't correct it, you could have neurological damage.
The vitamin supplements are good but also make sure you are eating a variety of whole grains every day.

Answer 8

Its likely that you are just still detoxing from meat. I would highly recommend buying a juicer (can get them from thrift shops for just a few dollars) and juicing fresh fruit and veggies. I juice three times a day, and do not need to take supplements-I get all the nutrition I need from juicing carrots, apples, celery, spinach, parsley, etc. and eating lots of raw produce. I feel super! (I went through the tired, moody bit at first too)

Answer 9

Sweetie you are suffering from a lack of iron. Take it from me being anaemic to start with plus I am a vegetarian. Iron is what supplies your muscles and joints with oxygen within your blood.Without the oxygen you get "achy", cramps, mood swings headaches due to lack of oxygen to your brain. Check your under eye lid...is it very pale that's a trick i use it should be bright red if not then your vessels aren't getting that oxygen. (doctor let me in on that one)
Basically I have to take supplements,especially around that time of the month but you have to get a prescription for them. But first try upping your intake of iron by eating more kidney beans,spinach,real vegetable juices such as carrot. Plus you might want to get a multi vitamin I recommend the one a day for women because it is higher in iron and calcium just for such reasons as mentioned before. If it continues see a doctor cause no one you age should feel that way. Good Luck.

Answer 10

Hi!!
For being healthy u neednot be a vegetarian just try to eat regulaly in correct time .rather than delicious food eat the healthy food like greens,carrot,and other vegetables .

Add cereals ,protein rich foods regularly .Eat fruits after ur break fast ,lunch,and dinner.u will feel fresh and ur skin will be healthy & shining too.

Bye!! Take care of ur health .So that u will also feel confidence .

Answer 11

All types of nuts have protein, especially easy is peanuts or peanut butter.... Eggs are also rich in protein (since you are not a vegan)... Vegetables such as Mushrooms are also very high in protein... Also try some of the vegetarian-meat dishes... some actually taste just as good as real meat or sometimes even better...