Forums: April 2011 Kickstart Forum: Vitamin Supplements....
Created on: 04/02/11 06:28 PM Views: 2024 Replies: 9
Kerry Joined: 04/02/11 Posts: 2	Vitamin Supplements.... Posted Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 6:28 PM Hello! I'm new to the 21 day Vegan kickstart and looking forward to it. Especially to see and feel the results. Are Vitamin supplements recommended? The reason I ask is that I am starting this program with Iron Deficiency Amenia (a life long problem) and I am told to take iron pills and eat red meat... I am not fond of either...any advice? Kerry
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Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2072	RE: Vitamin Supplements.... Posted Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 6:40 PM Kerry wrote: Hello! I'm new to the 21 day Vegan kickstart and looking forward to it. Especially to see and feel the results. Are Vitamin supplements recommended? The reason I ask is that I am starting this program with Iron Deficiency Amenia (a life long problem) and I am told to take iron pills and eat red meat... I am not fond of either...any advice? Kerry Generally speaking, many folks will take a B12 supplement in some form (since B12 doesn't occur in any quantity in plants, only in meat). I would suggest you continue the supplement for iron at least for a time. A wild hunch (because I'm not a medical person at all) is that perhaps dairy might be a culprit in your anemia. For some people, dairy proteins cause the digestive tract to 'leak' small amounts of blood, causing anemia, but not enough to track unless you're looking for it. I'd suggest that you stick with it while the dairy is getting out of your system and then get your iron level checked at regular intervals to see if it improves any and perhaps you can reduce the iron supplement over time until hopefully it can be eliminated. Make sure to check out the information (around here somewhere) about getting adequate iron in a vegan lifestyle and be sure to add lots of good sources into your eating - you'll probably want to add more than is in the 'average' vegan menus. --Deb R
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mollyhorn Joined: 03/03/10 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 582	RE: Vitamin Supplements.... Posted Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 1:33 AM It is definitely possible to get enough iron as a vegan. http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/iron.htm Some good sources include Swiss Chard, Spinach, Soybeans, and Lentils. http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=70 Many vegans do choose to supplement (I do), especially with B-12, which is vital. But others do not. It's really a personal choice. I look at vitamins like insurance. They're there just in case you need them – sure, you try to eat a healthy, balanced diet, but you take vitamins daily, just in case your diet isn't always the best. Molly Horn
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pippin Joined: 09/07/10 Posts: 175	RE: Vitamin Supplements.... Posted Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 6:11 AM I think you have to decide what works for you based on your diet and how serious your deficiency is. Some people can regulate it with diet, and others cannot. It might help to list your symptoms so you remember them in the future. Also, please do speak with your doctor again to discuss your new diet. He or she may (or may not) be supportive, but should know anyway. When I became vegetarian in October, 2009 I had problems with iron deficiency anemia. I continued to take a supplement for quite a long time. Then, when I finally eliminated the dairy and eggs from my diet about 6 - 7 months ago, I decided to stop taking the supplements for iron (they make me sick to my stomach). Since then, I have had no problems with my iron, but I do get it checked regularly. I try to eat iron rich foods regularly and try to be aware of any of the old symptoms coming back (tiredness, bruising easily, short of breath, paleness). Now the only supplements I take are B12 and D in the winter months.
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pippin Joined: 09/07/10 Posts: 175	RE: Vitamin Supplements.... Posted Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 6:11 AM I think you have to decide what works for you based on your diet and how serious your deficiency is. Some people can regulate it with diet, and others cannot. It might help to list your symptoms so you remember them in the future. Also, please do speak with your doctor again to discuss your new diet. He or she may (or may not) be supportive, but should know anyway. When I became vegetarian in October, 2009 I had problems with iron deficiency anemia. I continued to take a supplement for quite a long time. Then, when I finally eliminated the dairy and eggs from my diet about 6 - 7 months ago, I decided to stop taking the supplements for iron (they make me sick to my stomach). Since then, I have had no problems with my iron, but I do get it checked regularly. I try to eat iron rich foods regularly and try to be aware of any of the old symptoms coming back (tiredness, bruising easily, short of breath, paleness). Now the only supplements I take are B12 and D in the winter months.
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LaniMuelrath Joined: 12/30/09 Location: California Posts: 557	RE: Vitamin Supplements.... Posted Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 11:48 AM Kerry wrote: Hello! I'm new to the 21 day Vegan kickstart and looking forward to it. Especially to see and feel the results. Are Vitamin supplements recommended? The reason I ask is that I am starting this program with Iron Deficiency Amenia (a life long problem) and I am told to take iron pills and eat red meat... I am not fond of either...any advice? Kerry Kerry, Here is some information on this topic from Dr. McDougall you will find helpful: Anemia Lani Facebook Celebrity Tips Page Lani Muelrath, M.A. CGFI, CPBN the Plant-Based Fitness Expert McDougall Health & Medical Center 5 Minute Fitness & Plant-based Blueprint www
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LisaPunk Joined: 01/06/11 Posts: 42	RE: Vitamin Supplements.... Posted Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 1:52 PM i found that i have had less of an issue with iron after becoming a vegetarian. a million years ago when i ate meat i was borderline anemic after becoming a vegetarian i never had a problem with it again. i have not had bloodwork done since i became vegan in january though i do not think it will be an issue. i do take a regular multivitamin and also an iron pill every day though leafy greens are the best way to get yer iron!!!
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lauriekitty Joined: 04/03/11 Posts: 1	RE: Vitamin Supplements.... Posted Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 4:19 PM Hi Kerry, I've also had to deal with anemia. I have found that eating a variety of dark leafy greens (especially kale and chard) has helped quite a bit, Vitamin C helps boost iron absorption so have an orange or some juice after your meal. Caffeine hinders absorption. Floradix is an herbal iron supplement, easy on the system. Good luck!
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Kerry Joined: 04/02/11 Posts: 2	RE: Vitamin Supplements.... Posted Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 5:39 PM Thank you! To all of you for the great advise. Looking forward to tomorrow! Kerry
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Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2072	RE: Vitamin Supplements.... Posted Monday, April 4, 2011 at 9:27 AM A tasty combo for leafy greens and vitamin C is to make a vegan spinach lasagna! I have some for lunch today - the filling is a mix of black beans, quinoa, spinach and almond-milk ricotta (hubby found a recipe for it somewhere online). Vinegars of all sorts are also high in vitamin C, so a leafy tossed salad with a vinegar dressing (I just sprinkle on balsamic or cider vinegar, no oil) is a good mix. When making soups, throw in a few tbls of vinegar as well - I think one of the kickstart recipes is a kale soup (or it might have been in a previous kickstart). That would be a good leafy green to add a little acidity to with the vinegar. --Deb R
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