my friend was telling me about one of his friends who is a vegetarian but she takes a teaspoon of fish oil every day. First of all what does that do? and second wouldn't that mean she's not technically vegetarian? also are there any vitamins you'd recommend for vegetarians to take? i know iron and protein are important and often come up short in a vegetarian diet but is there like a multivitamin for vegetarians specifically?
2007-12-11 13:01:14 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Vegetarian & Vegan
She's probably taking fish oil under the misguided assumption that it's the only way to get omega-3s. However, not only is taking fish oil completely NOT vegetarian, it's not remotely necessary either. Fish get their omegs-3s from blue-green algae and there's no reason why a vegetarian can't get theirs from the same vegetarian source the fish do. Tell your friend that there are several brands of vegan-friendly omega-3/ALA/DHA supplements that she can take instead of fish oil.
Vegetarians can get all of their nutritional requirements from their diet, just like a meat eater. Vegans have to take care with B12, but that is the only nutrient that should have to be supplemented. Protein does NOT, NOT, NOT come up short in a vegetarian diet! Please let that myth die already. The average American meat eater gets a whopping 4x the protein they need and the average American vegetarian gets 2.5x the protein they need; protein deficiency is almost unheard of in the developed world. Iron is also not generally a problem if you're eating a balanced diet including plenty of green veggies and legumes; the vegetarians who are iron deficient are either prone to it (i.e. they were also iron deficient as meat eaters) or they are not taking care with their diet. There are many vegetarian-formulated multivitamins on the market. Schiff is one that should be readily available in most drugstores that sell the brand.
2007-12-12 02:57:57 · answer #1 · answered by mockingbird 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
They're definitely non-vegetarian. In addition to containing fish oil (which comes from a fish and apparently isn't very clean according to a friend of mine who was studying nutrition), it probably is in a gelatin capsule, which is also not vegetarian. Grab some flax oil in a bottle. It needs to stay refrigerated, but it's pretty good for the omegas (plus it tastes and smells better). Just put a teaspoon on top of your salad, pasta, or veggies once a day.
2016-04-08 21:49:55 · answer #2 · answered by April 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Iron and protein are just as abundant in a veg diet as they are in a omnivorous one. If you eat a balanced veg diet then you shouldn't need to take vitamins. I have a vegan multivitamin but only take them when I have a hangover or if I get a cold (hasn't happened since I became veg!)... just as I did when I was a meat eater.
Fish Oils contain Omega 3 and Fatty Acids but you can find this in linseed/flaxeed oil too so maybe you could recommend this to your friend... fish oils are not vegetarian.
2007-12-11 13:20:32 · answer #3 · answered by jenny84 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fish oil is said to be rich in omega-3 fatty acids. And if she consumes fish oil, she is NOT a vegetarian. Ground flax sees, flax oil, hemp seeds, hemp oil, walnuts, and canola are all vegetarian sources of omega 3.
Protein does NOT come up short in a vegetarian or vegan diet. Have you even heard of protein deficiency in industrialized nations? Come on! Even vegans get more than they need. Ever notice how multivitamins NEVER have protein? That's because it's almost impossible to come up short on protein on a healthy diet.
And there are vitamins geared towards veg*ans that are pretty easy to find.
2007-12-11 13:17:05 · answer #4 · answered by VeggieTart -- Let's Go Caps! 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
To answer the last part of your question, I take straight Spectrum Flax seed oil from a bottle for the Omegas, and I like Solgar Female Mutivitamin, the vegetarian formula naturally, as well as Now foods lady multi. Most veggie friendly pills will say Vcaps on the label.
http://www.spectrumorganics.com/
http://www.nowfoods.com/
http://www.solgar.com/
2007-12-11 16:03:34 · answer #5 · answered by gurlycirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Omega-3 fatty acids are important for good health, but there are vegetarian sources of it (such as Silk Plus Omega-3 DHA, walnuts, ground flax seeds, flax oil, hempseed oil, canola oil, and supplements.) A good vegetarian omega-3 supplement is V-Pure: http://www.water4.net/
Fish aren't swimming vegetables.. your friend's friend isn't vegetarian.
Vegan One Multiple by Solray is a good multi-vitamin.
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=SO-1994&source=YISO-1994&gcid=C19283x009&keyword=SO-1994
2007-12-11 13:12:58 · answer #6 · answered by Julie 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No no no fish oil comes from dead fish flesh and is not vegetarian most likely the liver. She is a pescetarian
2007-12-11 13:12:10 · answer #7 · answered by Mr Hex Vision 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Not vegetarian because it comes from a dead animal. Some people are confused about this, I'm not sure why.
2007-12-11 14:58:17 · answer #8 · answered by majnun99 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
No, she is not vegetarian.
Omega-3s in the form of ALA can be found in many plant foods and DHA can be obtained from algae oil.
2007-12-11 13:26:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
One of the things that would be beneficial to you is Spirulina
http://www.spirulina.com/SPBSpirulina.html
re: fish oilhttp://www.familynutritiononline.com/benefits_of_fish_oil.htm
2007-12-11 13:17:29 · answer #10 · answered by sego lily 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋