If I want to be a vegetarian, what vitamins should i take?

Question

I don't know if it matters, but I'm 14.

Answer 1

You need Iron, calcium & especially protein...have you considered Fish?

Will S

Answer 2

Hello dear,
You are just 14. If you have been a non-vegeterian until
now, why you need to be a vegeterian now and look for
vitamins, clacium, iron etc. tablets.
The amount of energy which you get from non-veg diet,
it is difficult to get from land based diet.
An intelligent decision could be to cut down on red meat -
pork and beef, followed by mutton. At your age, you need
that energy, you are still growing. Having even red meat
at your age once in a while would not do any harm.
Chicken should be ok, preferably without skin, because the
skin carries lot of fat and oil.
Which land based foods give you that Omega Acids -
Omega 3, Omega 6, which you get from fish and which are
essentials for your body? However other seafoods like
shrimps, prawns, crabs etc can be cut down to once in a
while, because these contain more of cholesterol.
At this age, when you are still growing, you should not be
worried about such things.
If you think that the majority of people on this planet are
non-vegs, then ask yourself, can the majority be wrong!
However having vegetables, salads, fruits in your diet
alongwith non-vegs as mentioned above should make it
a balanced diet. Even most of the religions also dont
teach to be vegs. In todays world if everyone becomes
vegeterian, then think about the scarcity of vegs on this
planet. If you dont have otherwise any other problems that
your body does not accept non-veg, then it is a different
case! Or if you dont like non-veg at all, then again
something different case. Otherwise have a balanced diet
inclusive of non-veg + veg dishes, enjoy fresh fruits of the
season, keep low on fast foods, have good exercise,
stay away from smoke and liquor, have good habits,
study hard - these are some more important matters for
you to concentrate. Think about one example that for
anybody, after any illness or after delivery (in case of ladies),
to recover fast, doctors will suggest for non-veg soups, fish,
chicken etc, not for veg soups.
Note:- I am not in any ways against vegs or vegans.
Wish you good luck! Have a bright future!

Answer 3

Get your iron from beans and spinach and leafy greens. I'm not total veggie, but I take a B-12, B complex, Centrum Silver (no iron) even though I'm not old, a vitamin E, and 3 calcium pills. When I started this regimen I found I had a LOT more energy!

Answer 4

i turned vegetarian at age 13 and am now 26. i took a multivitamin for a while but stopped. i think the two things that are most difficult to get, even when eating a balanced, varied diet, are omegas and b-12. so now i take a supplement containing only those.

Answer 5

If you are eating a wide variety of foods in your diet than there is no need to take a supplement. The key to any diet is variety, weather it be vegetarian or includes meat. Many people(vegetarian and meat eaters) take a vitamin anyway. A simple multivitamin is fine, if you really feel the need to take a vitamin. A properly planed vegetarian diet will provide you with everything you need, there is nothing exclusive only to meat. If it were essential to eat meat than it would have its own section in the food pyramid(but if you look it shares it with beans, legumes, etc.

The one thing to remember is that you needs to replace the nutrients she is no longer getting from meat with other food. Major concerns for most people are protein, iron, omega 3's, and b12(although they shouldn't be since they are easy to get).

Protein
The average person only needs about 50 grams of protein per day. Protein is in everything, just look at the side of boxes. In todays world it is very hard to be protein deficient if you are eating a wide variety.

High protein foods include:
soy milk, tofu, nuts(Almonds, Cashews, Filberts, Hemp Seeds, Peanuts, Pumpkin seeds, Sesame seeds, Sunflower seeds, Walnuts (black)), seeds, legumes(Garbanzo beans, Kidney beans, Lentils, Lima beans, Navy beans, Soybeans, Split peas), grains(Barley, Brown rice, Buckwheat, Millet, Oatmeal, Rye, Wheat germ, Wheat, hard red, Wild rice), vegetables(Artichokes, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Green peas, Green pepper, Kale, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard green, Onions, Potatoes, Spinach, Tomatoes, Turnip greens, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini), fruits(Apple, Banana, Cantaloupe, Grape, Grapefruit, Honeydew melon, Orange, Papaya, Peach, Pear, Pineapple, Strawberry)

Iron
Like vitamin B-12, iron is a crucial component of red blood cells. Dried beans and peas, lentils, enriched cereals, whole-grain products, dark, leafy green vegetables, and dried fruit are good sources of iron. To help your body absorb non-animal sources of iron, eat foods rich in vitamin C — such as strawberries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, cabbage and broccoli — at the same time you consume iron-containing foods.

Omega 3
Omega 3 can be found in walnuts, flax seed oil, flax seed, rape seed oil, tofu, canola oil, soybeans, oat germ, wheat germ, kale,

B12
Vitamin B-12. Your body needs vitamin B-12 to produce red blood cells and prevent anemia. This vitamin is found almost exclusively in animal products, including milk, eggs and cheese. Vegans can get vitamin B-12 from some enriched cereals, fortified soy products or by taking a supplement that contains this vitamin.

Answer 6

if you eat healthily as a vegetarian you shouldnt have to supliment with vitamins depends how old you are..

Answer 7

I take one-a-day brand with iron.
Thank you for not eating animals. ;O)

Answer 8

none, just eat the right stuff. to get iron without meat, you can eat beans :) thanks for not eating animals

Answer 9

Dont do it> meat is what you need> eat a hamburger and enjoy life!

Answer 10

the veggie kind.