Anemia from not eating meat?

[lmarieaa]

I was wondering if any other vegetarians experience this, and what sort of suggestions anybody may have that would help. I get light headed alot, and also get exhausted easily. Sometimes I just have absolutely no energy. Its awful. Someone once suggested to me that it may be low iron levels in my blood leading to these symptoms. Is there a vegetarian vitamin i can get or anything?

[dra&pigs]

I don't know about any pills or anything, but if you get your blood checked by your doctor, they'll be able to tell you if you are actually anemic and what you can do to help it.

[Erin Lee]

I second the suggestion to get your levels checked, it will really help you proceed to know exactly what you're dealing with.

In the meantime, here is a nice resource with a list of iron rich vegetables:

Iron Rich Foods,Foods High in Iron List

[Taboo]

That was happening to me before I became vegetarian. I don't know what it is.

[guineapigluver1]

Same here Taboo. I also found out I was iodine deficient (sp?) so I started taking Kelp. You should get your blood checked by a doctor. As far as I know you can't be anemic just because you don't eat meat.

[Peggysu]

Well lots of things can cause a light headed feeling. Do you drink enough water throughout the day? It could also be related to your blood sugar levels. Since I have cut meat out of my diet I haven't had a problem and I live a very active life with a physically demanding job. You should probably see a doctor for your problem and then maybe a nutritionist. Like a lot of people have already said should probably have a blood test.

[Susan9608]

This is a medical problem that could have many causes. No one can provide a diagnosis over the internet; please see your medical professional.

[Deenanicole08]

Definately see a doctor. If it is anemia there are easy ways around it. Take a plus iron vitamin (has extra iron) and your doctor can prescribe extra iron for you to take in pill form. My sister is anemic also, and is vegetarian, and has no problems. She used to be tired all the time though but I dont know about the light headedness. I get lightheaded when I haven't eaten in a while so my blood sugar gets too low. But definately have some blood work done asap and go over the results with a doctor then go from there.

[Tserisa]

I have very bad problems with light-headedness and exhaustion. However, this is because I have a heart defect and low blood pressure! Please go to the doctor and get tested. Do not just assume you are anemic. There are so many other causes -- some harmless and some dangerous.

Vegetarians are not habitually deficient in iron. Too much iron can also be a problem so do not supplement iron unless you are sure that is a problem.

I have gotten checked for anemia. It should be a part of your yearly physical. I am not anemic and have never been, but my omnivore sister has had problems with it in the past!

So I repeat what everyone has said -- see a doctor! The test for anemia is a simple blood test.

[AnimalHouse36]

You can't use people who have no experience in doctering area to diagnose you. Go see a docter.

[Silverbeat]

AnimalHouse is right, you need to see a physician.

[Myspoiltpiggies]

This is one reason why I am reluctant to become vegetarian. When I did a course on Nutrition and Dietetics I learnt that it is vital to eat meat (liver especially) so we don't get anaemic. When a female is menstruating it is so important for her to replace the blood by eating meat. I just assumed there was another way? But there isn't?

Also, it is kinda off topic but my guinea pig is anaemic and my vet said to give her this vitamin B12 tablet.

Looking further into it I think there is a tablet available to you DEVA Vegan/Vegetarian Sublingual VITAMIN B12 - 90 Tablets
but I can't tell if it is taken from animals...

[Silverbeat]

Originally Posted by Myspoiltpiggies

This is one reason why I am reluctant to become vegetarian. When I did a course on Nutrition and Dietetics I learnt that it is vital to eat meat (liver especially) so we don't get anaemic. When a female is menstruating it is so important for her to replace the blood by eating meat. I just assumed there was another way? But there isn't?

Also, it is kinda off topic but my guinea pig is anaemic and my vet said to give her this vitamin B12 tablet.

Looking further into it I think there is a tablet available to you DEVA Vegan/Vegetarian Sublingual VITAMIN B12 - 90 Tablets
but I can't tell if it is taken from animals...

It's actually easy to avoid anemia if you eat a well-balanced diet as a vegetarian. I've been a vegetarian/vegan for five years and never once been anemic. The problem really is B-vitamins, especially B12 because they are only found in animal sources and the kind you get from a pill isn't easily absorbed by your body.

[Tserisa]

It's completely a myth that you have to eat meat and liver to avoid anemia. For one thing, I know many many meat eaters who never eat liver and they're not anemic. And I know meat eaters who are anemic (my sister, and one friend). I don't personally know a single anemic vegetarian, though they are out there.

Many green veggies are high in iron, just as many veggies are high in protein, per calorie.

Iron is one of those things that does not leave the body -- without bloodletting (or in a woman's case, menstruating). It builds up over time. They've actually linked high iron to heart trouble. This may be part of why women have a lower chance of heart disease until menopause, when it suddenly becomes the same risk as for men. They're shedding excess iron from their body.

There is a reason children's vitamins do not have iron. It is easy to have too much iron and get toxicity.

I have *very* heavy cycles, and I have been veg for 14 years. I have never suffered from anemia -- and I have been tested yearly at my physical.

Many studies have shown that vegetarians get as much iron as meat-eaters. A study in 1999 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found no difference in average daily intake between vegetarians and omnivores. Not only that, but several nutrients that vegans get in higher amounts than the average omnivore help the body absorb iron.

A German study found that the average vegan diet was deficient in three nutrients. However, the study found that average omnivore diets were deficient in seven, including two of the ones that were deficient in the vegan diet!

[Susan9608]

Please do NOT recommend any specific types of vitamins or supplements to anyone here on this forum. No one but an individual's personal health care provider can diagnose a specific health problem and prescribe medications, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements to them. Doing so over the internet is dangerous, presumptions, foolish, and well beyond the scope of this forum.

Also, please be careful about repeating things that are total myths and fallacies on this forum. This forum is for factual information about vegetarianism - not stuff you might have "heard" some where. If you do have information *against* a vegetarian diet that you feel you absolutely *must* post, you need to post your sources, so others know the information is based in fact and scientific evidence and not conjecture and media-hype hysteria.

[Myspoiltpiggies]

If you are referring to what I said - I wasn't! I was just posting a link about what I had found... I wouldn't recommend anything that I haven't tried myself.

The thing about anaemia being from not eating enough red meat wasn't something I had just heard either, it is what I had studied for in my AS level exam on Health and Social Care Nutrition and Dietetics. How could I know it was a myth before I had been told on here anyway?

I am completely for vegetarianism (even though I do not follow this myself), so I am sorry if anyone got the wrong idea.

But I understand, and I will not do any of what you said in the future.

[wheekers01]

oh sorry never mind but protein shakes sometimes help. i saw the post about not recommending pills

[jen867]

i've been diagnosed with severe anemia for a few years now.
i was a vegetarian for a while, too, but found it was something i needed to let go in order to handle this. i found out about my condition when i passed out, i didnt know what the symptoms (light headed, dizziness, tired, sick feeling with physical activity, etc..) were from before. a simple blood test from my doctor found this out.

the first step was putting me on a simple iron supplement and possibly vitamin c (it aides in iron absorbption). a lot of times this helps people in a few weeks and youre back to normal! its caused a lot by not comsuming enough iron rich food (which red meat, especially innards, contain).
however, my case is different. where as my body simply struggles to take the iron from my food. i get iron infusions. and will likely get them for the rest of my life. its not a huge hassle-- one to two hours.

the best advice is to go talk to your doctor! likely its an easy fix that a supplement with help.
best of luck!


as well-- sometimes females become anemic due to heavy flows. this was another round of pills i tried . if this is the case birth control helps.

and if you find your body isnt really agreeing with the iron supplements, there's actually specific medicine designed for anemia. they contain easier forms of iron to take in along with aides in absorbing. i preferred those when i was trying 'easy fixes.'

[yo FOO xD]

Well, vegetarianism is natural so it's probably not that. Ask your doctor what he/she thinks.

[jen867]

Natural-- yes. Natural for humans-- no.
It's a very great lifestyle and very easy to do and keep in check, if done properly. As I said, red meat contains a lot of iron (as do dark leafy greens, fyi ), however it is obviously not exactly a stable in a veg diet...that can cause a problem. It is very easy to not get enough iron if you're living on veggie dogs and soy milk.

You need that iron in your body. Iron is a vital part in your red blood cells carrying oxygen around to your tissues, organs, etc.. Iron is necessary to produce hemoglobin, which is what carries the oxygen. Oxygenated blood is what makes you feel energized, hence feeling so worn out with anemia.

This is no as uncommon as it sounds. Abstaining from red meat means your iron intake would go down-- start eating things high in iron and vitamin c to help out even!
Iron rich foods are simple to incorporate in your diet-- leafy greens, pumpkin seeds, beans and even depending how strict your vegetarianism is seafood is a great source as well.

Hope my rambling has helped! I'm practically a textbook by now haha.