Is it normal for vegetarians to pass out at random times?!

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There are multiple reasons that a person may pass out. Just b/c she does not eat meat does not mean that it is the reason. It is easy to try and find a scapegoat or illness, but unless someone is willing to get checked out by a doctor, guessing at the cause accomplishes nothing.

Perhaps she is just the kind of person who gets light headed. My family is notorious for getting lightheaded. My grandfather used to pass out for no reason, as did my aunt, my mother is prone to it, and I am as well. Sometimes I find that I can get so relaxed that I don't breath deep enough, which can cause a light headed feeling, sometimes I then overcompensate in my breathing, and hyperventilate. I have never been tested, I don't speculate at the cause, its just something that I have always had.

It is a myth that vegetarians lack protein. Protein is in just about every food you eat. The average person takes in too much protein per day. Odds are(unless she is starving herself), she is getting more than enough protein.

Passing out that often is not normal. She should get tests done to determine the cause. It could be caused be numerous different things from not enough calories taken in, to neurological issues, etc. Guesses by people on the internet are not going to help your friend, only a doctor can.

Absolutely NOT. Fainting spells, dizziness and passing out can be caused by hormonal imbalances. It can also be caused by allergies. People often think vegetarians are anorexic or are supposed to look anorexic but that's a farce. It is not true at all. My mother was a vegetarian and she NEVER had any fainting spells or passing out. Your friend has a medical problem and needs real help. Would she accept going to a naturopathic doctor? (Not homeopathy)

Every vegetarian and vegan I've ever known has been a normal healthy person. I'm not a vegetarian but I know there is a lot of myths and prejudice against being one.

Most vegetarians that pass out are lacking something in their diet, like protein. If she is a vegetarian and not a vegan she can eat eggs which are high in protein. Beans, nuts and dark green leafy veggies like spinach or certain cabbages are also very good sources of protein. She should see a doctor about her diet to get everything straightened out.

No that is not normal in any way.
I do not think it has anything to do with her being vegetarian.
I had a friend who was NOT vegetarian who would pass out randomly. She had an eating disorder. It could be from a number of things.
Dude she probably wont let her mom take her to the doctor cause she doesnt want to be put in rehab for her eating disorder. Really, most people are great at covering it up so im not surprised if you think shes not.

why does not eating meat mean you wont have enough protein??
What is this MYTH that Americans get brainwashed by?
Cheese, milk soymilk, peanut butter etc, so many foods have protein.

anway, she sounds like she is eating badly and passing out for lack of food.
She don't want her mther involved because she won't give over her control of food.
I reckon she just eats badly, like no beans, legumes, tofu, lentils and chickpeas- you know, the stuff that all healthy Asians eat.

no it is not normal, no matter what kind of diet she is on.
Is she eating enough??
If not, hunger could be making her pass out and that would not show up on any test for diabetes because you have to fast before those tests.
How did she get the tests scheduled and done if she won't see a doctor??
A doctor has to order them.....

i was Vegetarian for 6 years. and no you shouldnt pass out
theres a differance if your a "vegetarian" and you doing to lose weight and Dont eat anything.
or a "vegetarian" that is a ACTUAL Vegetarian. that eats the tofu and VEGIES. and get the right about a protein he or she needs.

No, passing out means there's some problem, like you've gotten scared, or there may be some medical problem. Passing out should never be anything normal (unless you mean passing out like falling asleep.) Call your doctor and see what he says.

Edit:

Try getting more protien and more nutreints.

youre right, passing out is never normal. Does she eat enough food? Something tells me that her vegetarianism is a cover for an anorexia or bulemia problem. Both conditions cause passing out.

Passing out...she has health issues. Most vegetarians I've known are for some reason also heavy smokers, so maybe she's not smoking enough-LOL.

Maybe she isn't eating right, and there is a problem with her system.

lol, no. that is not normal. I haven't passed out once during the 8 years I've been veg.

no its not normal. ive been veggie all my life and i never 'randomly' pass out..

She needs FOOD!

it's Definately NOT normal and the longer she waits to seek medical attention....the more damage it can be causing her* maybe something that wont be able to be reveresed?? eye sight, heart..anything*
She's definately lacking something in her diet, probably the protien, and alot of other nutrients* her body is shorting out*
Definately try to Convince her to see her family doctor. Her IRON is probably extremely low also*
There could be some serious underlying condition that will only get worse........the passing out may cost her , her life at some point* maybe by falling and hitting her heat, OR some other organ shutting down her boday*
GET HER TO HER DOCS TMOW!

No it is not normal for anyone (vegan, vegetarian or omnivore) to pass out that frequently, or even once a month. She needs to go back to another doctor for a second opinion. Maybe she's hypotensive (blood pressure too low).

As someone pointed out, it's a myth that vegetarians don't get enough protein. Did you know that broccoli is about 40% protein? If you're eating enough food to stay alive, you're getting enough protein, unless you're on a very strange diet, say all sugar or olive oil.

You might want to reconsider that she might have an eating disorder that she's hiding from you. If she's bulimic, that could be wreaking havoc with her electrolyte balance.

You *can* get every nutrient you need from vegetables, but more often than not vegetarians have no idea which vegetables they should be eating. It's probably malnutrition. Doctors rarely think very hard about stuff like this so before you guys go in again do like a ton of research and ask a bunch of questions.

OMIGOD ppl. It isnt that much of a big deal! I am NOT annorexent or bulemic and never will be. I KNOW im skinny, so i do not need to lose wieght. I eat more than a HIPPO so it's not the fact that i dont eat enough. And it's not really passing out... just... blacking out where everything like... idk disappears. It's FINE Sarah. Yahoo Answers cannot fix my prob LOL ;) stop worrying so much!

Love, ~Payton :)