Fatigue Concerns?!
One of my main concerns with going vegetarian is fatigue/lack of energy issues!.
What are things that one can eat/do to help reduce feelings of fatigue!?
Is it normal to feel fatigued for a period of time when one becomes a vegetarian!?
What vitamins/substitutes can I make in order to help with this!?
To give you a little bit of background:
I had some bouts of anemia when I was pregnant with my daughter and it's been a concern of mine, since I've noticed that even after her birth I get fatigued at times when I don't eat meat!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
What are things that one can eat/do to help reduce feelings of fatigue!?
Is it normal to feel fatigued for a period of time when one becomes a vegetarian!?
What vitamins/substitutes can I make in order to help with this!?
To give you a little bit of background:
I had some bouts of anemia when I was pregnant with my daughter and it's been a concern of mine, since I've noticed that even after her birth I get fatigued at times when I don't eat meat!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
It could well be iron deficiency, it could also be depression!.
Anemia is the largest nutritianal deficiancy in the western world, including amongst meat eaters!. Maybe you can read this page to see if it makes sense and gives you ideas on how to increase you iron content:
http://www!.vegsoc!.org/info/iron!.html
Vegetarians do not need to take vitamins if you diet has a good balance of fruit, veggies, cereals, pulses, dairy and eggs!.
Perhaps you can read this collection of information pages, that might help, its an easy read, not overly scientific:
http://www!.vegsoc!.org/info
As for depression, i only mention that because you say its since birth!. Only you would know if this is a possiblity
Tireness is definately a coping strategy for depression!. I know a healthy 30 year old who has a perfectly healthy diet and yet sleeps until 11AM every morning, its depression!.
You mention you feel tired when you don't eat meat!. Iron deficiency takes about 2 months to show up in the system, so minor variations such a skipping meat for a week will not alter your iron levels!.
Not being funny here, but have you ever had thoughts that eating meat might not be for you !? If perhaps you have thought about vegetarianism in the past, skipping meat for awhile might introduce some form of subconscious guilt for when you do eat meat, the tiredness being the stress and depression cuased by it!.!. Don't get me wrong, i'm not saying it should, i have no view on if you eat meat or not, but i wonder if you have some underlying believe that it might be wrong !? Afterall, you've turned to the "vegetarian" section for advice!.
Anyway, take care, get out in the sunshine and dream of being trapped on an island with George Cluney - that'll wake you up ;-)
EDIT: Thanks not just an icon, thats a very proud cockeral called Joel ! He says hello, or rather cluck, cluck!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Anemia is the largest nutritianal deficiancy in the western world, including amongst meat eaters!. Maybe you can read this page to see if it makes sense and gives you ideas on how to increase you iron content:
http://www!.vegsoc!.org/info/iron!.html
Vegetarians do not need to take vitamins if you diet has a good balance of fruit, veggies, cereals, pulses, dairy and eggs!.
Perhaps you can read this collection of information pages, that might help, its an easy read, not overly scientific:
http://www!.vegsoc!.org/info
As for depression, i only mention that because you say its since birth!. Only you would know if this is a possiblity
Tireness is definately a coping strategy for depression!. I know a healthy 30 year old who has a perfectly healthy diet and yet sleeps until 11AM every morning, its depression!.
You mention you feel tired when you don't eat meat!. Iron deficiency takes about 2 months to show up in the system, so minor variations such a skipping meat for a week will not alter your iron levels!.
Not being funny here, but have you ever had thoughts that eating meat might not be for you !? If perhaps you have thought about vegetarianism in the past, skipping meat for awhile might introduce some form of subconscious guilt for when you do eat meat, the tiredness being the stress and depression cuased by it!.!. Don't get me wrong, i'm not saying it should, i have no view on if you eat meat or not, but i wonder if you have some underlying believe that it might be wrong !? Afterall, you've turned to the "vegetarian" section for advice!.
Anyway, take care, get out in the sunshine and dream of being trapped on an island with George Cluney - that'll wake you up ;-)
EDIT: Thanks not just an icon, thats a very proud cockeral called Joel ! He says hello, or rather cluck, cluck!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Fatigue is caused by less energy supply!. Our body uses glucose as a source of energy!. Glucose comes from all types of food that we eat everyday!. When there is less supply of glucose it is better to drink some drink enriched with glucose!. In addition you may check your haemoglobin from time to time !. Be sure it is in the advised range ( 13 -14%)!. Eat dry fruits especially date which is rich source of iron!. Eat figs which is good source of phosphorus and calcium which are the vital elements of our body!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Fatigue also is caused by not dealing with the stress that day-to-day life throws at you!. Having just had a baby, your hormones are all out of whack also!. And of course, having just had a baby, you just aren't getting the rest you need!. You don't have to have an iron deficiency to have those symptoms you described!. I, too, was anemic during pregnancy, but when I also had those same symptoms, my iron was good!. It was just fatigue!. But when you go years with unrelieved fatigue, then it turns into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, an auto-immune disorder!. Even though you are mostly a vegetarian, are you still not eating correctly!? Too much refined sugars and wheat products will give you signs of fatigue!. Vitamins should be a must as American soil is depleted of nutrition, so that means our veggies don't have the nutrition they should have!. Get some good vitamins from a healthfood store, the kind of super-packed mega vitamins and see how you feel after one month!. Skip the variety from Walmart and other major supermarket chains as they carry poor quality!. since you also appear to have symptoms of depression, you might want to take St!. John's Wort, 300 mg, one capsule three times daily for a bit until your body is on track!. Something else to consider is Evening Primrose Oil which is good for women!.
Good Luck to you!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Good Luck to you!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Hi there!.
So sorry to hear about your health problem!.
Michael's link is excellent!. Personally I would strongly suggest you take a good quality iron supplement from a respected health foods store such as Holland & Barrett!. Supplements can help 'plug the gap'- making sure you don't become deficient!.
Vegetarians can get plenty of iron from beans and wholegrains!. Iron is a mineral!. It is added to certain breakfast cereals like Weetabix!. According to a book I own, called 'Nutrition For Dummies' [2006], the iron added to cereals is easier for your body to absorb than from other plant based foods!. I am not sure why this is so, but I must admit that I get most of my iron intake from Fortified breakfast cereals!.
A Professor at University told us that Iron supplements are the best way to deal with anaemia, because it delivers the iron straight to where it is needed!. Some people think that meat gives them plentiful iron!.
However, my uncle eats red meats in abundance every day, yet he has recently been diagnosed with anaemia!. I've been vegetarian for 11 years and I have never had an iron problem or any other deficiency!. It's all about a balanced diet !.
Eating a varied diet with plenty of nutritious, wholesome foods such as fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and pulses (beans) will ensure that your energy levels stay high!.
I applaud you for your genuine interest in the vegetarian diet!.
Best of luck!. I wish you all the best!.
:)
[edit] A pale complexion, accompanied with tiredness and low mood are certainly symptoms of iron deficiency!. I hope you sort the iron issue out and that you feel great really soon!Www@FoodAQ@Com
So sorry to hear about your health problem!.
Michael's link is excellent!. Personally I would strongly suggest you take a good quality iron supplement from a respected health foods store such as Holland & Barrett!. Supplements can help 'plug the gap'- making sure you don't become deficient!.
Vegetarians can get plenty of iron from beans and wholegrains!. Iron is a mineral!. It is added to certain breakfast cereals like Weetabix!. According to a book I own, called 'Nutrition For Dummies' [2006], the iron added to cereals is easier for your body to absorb than from other plant based foods!. I am not sure why this is so, but I must admit that I get most of my iron intake from Fortified breakfast cereals!.
A Professor at University told us that Iron supplements are the best way to deal with anaemia, because it delivers the iron straight to where it is needed!. Some people think that meat gives them plentiful iron!.
However, my uncle eats red meats in abundance every day, yet he has recently been diagnosed with anaemia!. I've been vegetarian for 11 years and I have never had an iron problem or any other deficiency!. It's all about a balanced diet !.
Eating a varied diet with plenty of nutritious, wholesome foods such as fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and pulses (beans) will ensure that your energy levels stay high!.
I applaud you for your genuine interest in the vegetarian diet!.
Best of luck!. I wish you all the best!.
:)
[edit] A pale complexion, accompanied with tiredness and low mood are certainly symptoms of iron deficiency!. I hope you sort the iron issue out and that you feel great really soon!Www@FoodAQ@Com