Health Questions.
Messages
Question: Anemia
How does veganism effect anemia?...my doctor told me I am so anemic he was suggesting a blood transfusion...
(By: donald)
Category: Health Questions
Re: Question: Anemia
I think that you need another doctor. If you are anemic then you only need to take iron or get an iron injection. You do not need a blood transfusion. You need a good doctor.
(By: Doc)
Category: Health Questions
Re: Question: Anemia
> How does veganism effect anemia?...my doctor told me I am so anemic he was
> suggesting a blood transfusion...
>
> (By:
Drinking milk is known to cause anemia
(By: Milton)
Category: Health Questions
Question: Bowel Movements
My apology in advance for asking a kind of gross question. Before changing to a vegan diet I would regularly have one complete bowel movement each morning with usually a well formed stool and be done for the day. This continued for a time early after my dietary change, but now I may have to relieve myself two or three times daily, incompletely, and with small, loose stools. Could it be the bananas which I consume a lot of now? What am I doing wrong? I don\'t want to change back to the way I was eating, but this is a real problem for me. Thanks.
(By: Perry)
Category: Health Questions
Re: Question: Bowel Movements
Hmm. Well, it's not a very satisfying answer, but it sounds like something you're eating isn't agreeing with you. First, I'd look at foods you're eating a lot more of. Bananas are typically a treatment for loose stool, rather than a cause, but maybe lay off for a week and see what happens. If you're not eating much fiber, try adding some (especially soluble fiber), in the form of rice, wheat, pureed pumpkin, or oats. If that doesn't work, try vegetable fiber instead. Eating lots of fruit can cause problems for some people.
You might also try resetting your digestive system by skipping a meal or two, and/or trying an over-the-counter remedy.
If that's not working, talk to your doctor. She may be able to shed some light on dietary or non-dietary causes.
Good luck!
Category: Health Questions
Question: Does being vegan affect your period?
Hey, I am 16 years old, I have only been vegan for 8 months but I was vegetarian for a year before that already. I eat beans and soy and nuts and veggie burgers etc., all the right replacements, but every now and a again i get a little lazy with my consumption of protein replacements. I also take multivitamins, including iron and vitamin B etc. Everything has been fine until now, but I have missed my period this month and as I am not sexually active the only thing I could think would be the reason for this is my diet. Does being vegan affect your period? Or does it mean I\'m simply not eating enough protein? What can I do to fix it?
(By: Vegan)
Category: Health Questions
Re: Question: Does being vegan affect your period?
It's probably not your diet. Protein consumption doesn't have too much to do with your period. Unless you've gotten unhealthily thin (which can disrupt estrogen levels), there is probably nothing to worry about. It's pretty normal for cycles to be a bit irregular, especially at 16. If it hasn't resumed within 3 months, I'd want to see a doctor.
Category: Health Questions
Question:
Hi! I am trying to keep sodium intake to below 1,000 mg per day. This limits me basically to veggies and fruit, beans, nuts, seeds. The problem is that I am losing more weight than I want. Any ideas? Thanks!
(By: Lu Weesner)
Category: Health Questions
Re: Question:
> Hi! I am trying to keep sodium intake to below 1,000 mg per day. This
> limits me basically to veggies and fruit, beans, nuts, seeds. The problem
> is that I am losing more weight than I want. Any ideas? Thanks!
> (By: Lu Weesner)
Hi Lu,
I see no reason why you would exclude grains from your diet. They are a healthy source of many nutrients including the B complex and protein. If you are losing weight then don\'t restrict yourself. They also compliment nuts, beans, and seeds to boost the protein in your diet. Do some research on the many types of healthy grains available and enjoy yourself :) Also don\'t forget to eat healthy fats like extra-virgin olive oil. They can only do your body good.
Susan
(By: Susan )
Category: Health Questions
Re: Question:
> > Hi! I am trying to keep sodium intake to below 1,000 mg per day. This
> > limits me basically to veggies and fruit, beans, nuts, seeds. The
> problem
> > is that I am losing more weight than I want. Any ideas? Thanks!
> > (By: Lu Weesner)
> Hi Lu,
> I see no reason why you would exclude grains from your diet. They are a
> healthy source of many nutrients including the B complex and protein. If
> you are losing weight then don\'t restrict yourself. They also compliment
> nuts, beans, and seeds to boost the protein in your diet. Do some research
> on the many types of healthy grains available and enjoy yourself :) Also
> don\'t forget to eat healthy fats like extra-virgin olive oil. They can
> only do your body good.
> Susan
> (By: Susan )
Hi, Susan. Thanks for your reply. Grains seem to make me bloated and uncomfortable and I do avoid them for the most part. I am careful that I get enough healthy fats with olive oil and nuts and seeds. I like the low sodium thing and feel good but I am 5'11" and weigh 130 pounds and I'm told I'm too thin. I certainly eat as much as I want but just need more calories. Any healthy high calorie options out there? Thanks!
(By: Lu)
Category: Health Questions
Re: Question:
> > > Hi! I am trying to keep sodium intake to below 1,000 mg per day.
> This
> > > limits me basically to veggies and fruit, beans, nuts, seeds. The
> > problem
> > > is that I am losing more weight than I want. Any ideas? Thanks!
> > > (By: Lu Weesner)
> > Hi Lu,
> > I see no reason why you would exclude grains from your diet. They are a
> > healthy source of many nutrients including the B complex and protein.
> If
> > you are losing weight then don\'t restrict yourself. They also
> compliment
> > nuts, beans, and seeds to boost the protein in your diet. Do some
> research
> > on the many types of healthy grains available and enjoy yourself :)
> Also
> > don\'t forget to eat healthy fats like extra-virgin olive oil. They
> can
> > only do your body good.
> > Susan
> > (By: Susan )
> Hi, Susan. Thanks for your reply. Grains seem to make me bloated and
> uncomfortable and I do avoid them for the most part. I am careful that I
> get enough healthy fats with olive oil and nuts and seeds. I like the low
> sodium thing and feel good but I am 5'11" and weigh 130 pounds and I'm told
> I'm too thin. I certainly eat as much as I want but just need more
> calories. Any healthy high calorie options out there? Thanks!
> (By: Lu)
I can understand that. Some grains do that to me too. Bread is the worst. But I would suspect a total lack of grains would keep your weight low. Have you tried quinoa? It isn't actually a grain but a seed. Tastes a bit like rice, is great in a stir-fry and prepared many other ways, and is a good source of protein. What about potatoes, both sweet and white? What about tahini with lemon on top of your veggies? You could make yourself nutrient bars with peanut butter, dark chocolate, nuts, seeds, and dried fruits or buy them. Those are the most calorie and nutrient dense foods I can think of. Hope that helps :)
Susan
(By: Susan Lowry)
Category: Health Questions
Re: Question:
> > > > Hi! I am trying to keep sodium intake to below 1,000 mg per day.
> > This
> > > > limits me basically to veggies and fruit, beans, nuts, seeds. The
> > > problem
> > > > is that I am losing more weight than I want. Any ideas? Thanks!
> > > > (By: Lu Weesner)
> > > Hi Lu,
> > > I see no reason why you would exclude grains from your diet. They are
> a
> > > healthy source of many nutrients including the B complex and protein.
> > If
> > > you are losing weight then don\\\\\\\'t restrict yourself. They also
> > compliment
> > > nuts, beans, and seeds to boost the protein in your diet. Do some
> > research
> > > on the many types of healthy grains available and enjoy yourself :)
> > Also
> > > don\\\\\\\'t forget to eat healthy fats like extra-virgin olive oil. They
> > can
> > > only do your body good.
> > > Susan
> > > (By: Susan )
> > Hi, Susan. Thanks for your reply. Grains seem to make me bloated and
> > uncomfortable and I do avoid them for the most part. I am careful that
> I
> > get enough healthy fats with olive oil and nuts and seeds. I like the
> low
> > sodium thing and feel good but I am 5\'11\" and weigh 130 pounds and I\'m
> told
> > I\'m too thin. I certainly eat as much as I want but just need more
> > calories. Any healthy high calorie options out there? Thanks!
> > (By: Lu)
> I can understand that. Some grains do that to me too. Bread is the worst.
> But I would suspect a total lack of grains would keep your weight low. Have
> you tried quinoa? It isn\'t actually a grain but a seed. Tastes a bit like
> rice, is great in a stir-fry and prepared many other ways, and is a good
> source of protein. What about potatoes, both sweet and white? What about
> tahini with lemon on top of your veggies? You could make yourself nutrient
> bars with peanut butter, dark chocolate, nuts, seeds, and dried fruits or
> buy them. Those are the most calorie and nutrient dense foods I can think
> of. Hope that helps :)
>
> Susan
> (By: Susan Lowry)
Great ideas! I hadn\'t considered the tahini idea. I have tried quinoa in the past and enjoyed it, don\'t know why I stopped using it. I will try your ideas. Thanks!
(By: Lu)
Category: Health Questions
Question: duration of use
hello I buy vegeterian yoghurt but sometimes i see that they are expired for eg from 2 weeks a go. are they healthy to use?
thank you very much for your answer
(By: sara)
Category: Health Questions
Re: Question: duration of use
Hello Sara,
I often purchase vegan foods that are going out of date that day or the next day. Many times they stay in my refrigerator for a few days past the expiration date. I have never got sick from any of them. Also the health food stores say that it is safe for various days past the expiration date. That day depends on what the item is. So I would eat the yoghourt two weeks past the expiration date and not worry about it. Breads and much more can be frozen for months as still be good. I do this often especially when I get a great deal of the food.
(By: Doc)
Category: Health Questions
Question: Carnosine deficit
I recently switched to a plant based diet. Some of my carnivorous friends tell me that I will get sick and die prematurely due to a carnosine deficiency, since carnosine is only found in meat. "Protein glycation" is the term they use to describe my coming early death from lack of carnosine. I have heard that taking a vegan form of the amino acid Alanine could help avoid some problems. Do you know what might be done to resolve carnosine deficiency? Thank you for your kind help in this matter!
Sincerely,
Wayne McCleaft
(By: Wayne McCleaft)
Category: Health Questions
ANS: Question: Carnosine deficit
Hello Wayne,
I now get a chance to use my biology class that I was able to get instituted in college. The course did not require any animals being dissected. It was completely on nutrition. Anyway here goes.
The human body needs 12 essential amino acids. A vegan diet only gives you eight of those. So it looks like we are in trouble. Now for the good news. The other four are synsitized by the other eight. That is backed by scientific proof. Please feel free to check it out by using solid scientific organizations.
There is only one thing that we need that is not provided with a vegan diet. That is vitimin B-12. We must get that with a supplement.
I have been a vegetarian for 44 years and the last 15 years has been as a vegan. I receive regular physicals and blood tests. I am 70 years old and I have been in excellent health for a man my age. Since I have had two leaky heart valves from childhood, I have had several tests with cardiologists. They have all found my arteries are whistle clean. Each of them said that the vegan diet is the best diet for heart problems. Without a vegan diet I would have mechanical heart valves by now.
Also it has been shown that vegans and vegetarians live at least five years longer on average than with non-veg'ns.
(By: Doc)
Category: Health Questions
Question: Hair Growth?
Hello,
I've been vegan for four years now, however in the last two years my hair on my head has stopped growing. It has not grown a mm in years and though it is thinning as a result there is some new hair coming through, its mostly a length problem.
My doctor said it must have been the shock of changing my diet, but I've noticed doctors blame everything on veganism. I was a vegetarian for a decade before so it was a smooth transition to vegan and in every other respect I'm perfectly healthy.
After some research , I've discovered zinc is responsible for hair growth and is stored in the body for many years before depleted. If this is the case as I don't take supplements I've upped my almond intake, but to no avail.
Is this a common problem with vegans? Is there any other cure I can try.
Any advise is greatly welcomed.
Many thanks,
Joey
(By: Joey Doran)
Category: Health Questions
cholesterol issues
I just got the news from my doctor. My cholesterol level is 250, trigicerides are 354. I have been hearing a lot and reading a lot about the vegetarian lifestyle curing all of these issues. Is it something I can count on to help me out of this jam I'm in? I have been dabbling in veganism for the last month and I can feel a difference already in how much energy I have. Any information would be very helpful.
Thank You,
Mrs. Maria Redlich
(By: Marie)
Category: Health Questions
ANS: cholesterol issues
You are definitely on the right track. Very few vegans have cholesterol issues. The one thing to keep in mind is that there are still many vegan foods that are "junk food". Once you are looking at processed, packaged foods then you have to still note the ingredients and in most cases limit the intake of these foods. Many of them will be healthier than their non-vegan counterparts but they may still not be the best. I have no cholesterol problems and I have a processed vegan food on occasion. :)
Stick with the whole vegan foods and you'll be a specimen of fine health in no time!
Category: Health Questions
Question: are there any prescription sleeping tablets, either benzodiazepines or non-benzo that are suitable for vegans i.e. no gelatin or lactose
(By: Lainy)
Category: Health Questions
Re: Question: are there any prescription sleeping tablets, either benzodiazepines or non-benzo that are suitable for vegans i.e. no gelatin or lactose
> I have suffer from insomnia and was also wondering the same thing. just found out that sleeing pills contain lactose. If u find a prescription please email me & let me know. Thank u.
> (By: Lainy)
(By: D)
Category: Health Questions
Question: sick
i have been vegan for four days, but i eat some meat and now i feel sick is that a bad thing
(By: amber p)
Category: Health Questions
ANS: Question: sick
> i have been vegan for four days, but i eat some meat and now i feel sick is
> that a bad thing
If you change your eating habits suddenly, it is normal to feel some side effects. That should be nothing to worry about. It is just your body expelling toxins and adapting.
But to avoid those side effects, you can change gradually over time (e.g., eat less and less meat for a period of 1 month or so, until you leave it completely). Then the adaptation should be easier for you.
Category: Health Questions
My daugter has been a vegan for the past year. She eats only raw foods and follows it very strict. She is careful to get all her proteins, very little bread, and gets plenty of exercise. She is heavier now than when she started, bloated, and bad acne. I feel like something is not right..she should not even have to think about her weight, she eats soo healthy. What could be going on? I feel her body is rejecting this diet, yet she eats soo healthy.
(By: Robin Boorsma)
Category: Health Questions
ANS: My daugter...
> My daugter has been a vegan for the past year.
> [she's having problems] What could be going on?
A "vegan diet" can be almost any diet at all, as long as it does not contain any animal-derived products. So there are theoretically MILLIONS of ways to eat a vegan diet. If her current food choices are giving her trouble, she can change it around in all sorts of ways (more cooked food, less raw, more greens, less starchy food, etc), until she arrives at a diet with a variety of foods that she tolerates well and thrives on. Keeping a "food diary" may help a lot. That way she can figure out which foods cause trouble, and which ones don't. Tell her not to give up.
(By: Chef Deb)
Category: Health Questions
ANS: My daugter has been a vegan for the past year. She eats only raw foods and follows it very strict. She is careful to get all her proteins, very little bread, and gets plenty of exercise. She is heavier now than when she started, bloated, and bad acne. I feel like something is not right..she should not even have to think about her weight, she eats soo healthy. What could be going on? I feel her body is rejecting this diet, yet she eats soo healthy.
Chef Deb gave some very good advice but I am going to add something else. If your daughter is on a junk vegan diet then she will almost surely have trouble. A junk vegan diet is one of the worse diets in the world. We vegans need to take a vitamin B-12 supplement. That is basically all that we miss on a GOOD vegan diet. A good vegan diet is one of the best diets, if not the best diet, that anyone can eat. When I say a junk vegan diet I mean things like candy bars, sweets, chips, and food and snacks without good nutrition value to them. A good vegan diet had a lot of fruits, veggies, nuts, grains, soy (like tofu), and other foods with good nutritional value.
Please have your daughter use the resources of VEGAN 2050 including this sub area of it. We are more than happy to help her and Chef Deb will give her some great recipies. All you need to do is ask any of us. Chef Deb has her own sub section of VEGAN 2050.
(By: Doc)
Category: Health Questions
Vegan Recipes
>
> Please have your daughter use the resources of VEGAN 2050 including this
> sub area of it. We are more than happy to help her and Chef Deb will give
> her some great recipies. All you need to do is ask any of us. Chef Deb
> has her own sub section of VEGAN 2050.
> (By: Doc)
VEGAN 2050 also has a Facebook page, with lots of vegan "mini-recipes" and ideas.
(By: Chef Deb)
Category: Health Questions
Are some people just 'made' to be vegetarians?
I am 50. Always been a meat eater like my Dad and uncles, but they passed from colorectal cancer.
I have always had a slow metabolism like them and irritable bowel syndrome.
I gave up red meat for lent and felt a lot better. Now since Jan. 1 I have been a vegetarian. Havent lost weight yet but digestion is better and belly still shrinking (very slowly).
Maybe I am geneticly programed to be a vegetarian and meat is harmfull to my system?
My buddy is the opposite-eats tons of meat but is very slim and healthy.
Thanks!
(By: bud)
Category: Health Questions
Are some people just \'made\' to be vegetarians?
If you give up a food and you feel much better, that should tell you something important. Likewise, if you eat something new and it gives you trouble, that is important information too.
People who "can eat tons of rich food" and remain rail-thin are genetically unusual. We are designed to turn food into fuel and repair material for our bodies. When times were tough, people who couldn't put on weight were in big trouble. Those folks who could put on weight for the lean times survived, while the skinny folks often did not. It's just that nowadays, almost everything we do is automated, so people don't get as much exercise anymore, and it is much easier to gain weight.
(By: Deb)
Category: Health Questions
gJGYPYSTMZ
I eat little if any tofu. That idecunls the fake meats that many love to have as a main staple to their diet that is soy based.I eat pretty much what I have always eaten, but make it without the meat. Sounds difficult? It isn't.Something like a stuffed bell pepper is usually stuffed with meat. I instead go for rice and veggies with a tomato base sauce over it.Soups are no problem. Vegetable soups are easy. Go just with the veggies or add grains such as barley to them to add more nutritional value to them. There are also tomato based soups.A baked potato is not just a side dish. You can add all sorts of things on top of it. Broccoli, sauteed veggies of all sorts bell peppers, carrots, zucchini, onions, cilantro, parsley only limited by your imagination or personal tastes. You can even bake them ahead of time which saves on wasted energy and have them ready for you when you get home from work or school to be warmed up.I even have a traditional Italian sauce that is carrot based for pasta dishes. Vareity is not a problem.Kabobs that have veggies, mushrooms that you like on them a total treat that I have never had any to refuse.Mushrooms are fabulous, the variety is more than many people know. Stuff them, broil them, add them to other things. With the things that they have found out recently about capers, you might want to think about adding them to your salad or other dishes.Cold salads with pasta, grains, or just the veggies another wonderful experience for the palate.The things that you can do with a rice dish again only limited by your personal taste. You can go from main dish to dessert with this versitile grain.Baked apples, fruit salads, or just plain fruit a healthy addition to a balanced diet.Whole grain breads of different variety of grains is something else that I would suggest. Pumpernickle, rye, sour dough are great. Something as simple as switching over to a pita bread can bring variety to something that you may not have considered.You can juice, you can make fruit smoothies for quick fixes and treats. My suggestion is always for people to go with what they eat now and see how they can adapt and adjust what they already know and like to fit within a healthy diet. Reason that I suggest this is because you already have most if not all of what you need on hand and the outlay of money is not going to be a big bite out of the budget.If such is more than you can handle, or you just are not convident enough to do such I strongly suggest talking to a good dietician/nutritionist and getting their helpful insights. They not only will help you to know if what you are eating is meeting all your dietary needs, they can help you with formating a grocery list to make sure that you get all the things that you will need to have a healthy diet.Last but not least know that spices are your best friend. Learning about them and how to best use them in cooking is something that is going to make what you eat either something that you really enjoy or something that you just do and make do with. When you get comfortable, start trying new things. Add to what you already know. I suggest going to the library and getting cookbooks to see if the cookbook is something that you want to invest your hard earned money in buying. If it is filled with ingredients that are hard to find, foods that you really are not suited to your personal taste matters not if everyone else loves it.There are websites but I have found that many of the sites will rave about some dish that many times comes from an ethnic taste that you might not be familiar with and ingredients that are not easy to find. So make sure when searching such sites on the web that they are things that you can find easy or at least order.Again, can't say it enough. At first, I would suggest going with what you know. Helps to keep the budget down. Add the ingredients that you think that you might need as you need them easier than a massive outlay of monies on things all at once.
(By: Rajeev)
Category: Health Questions
Problem Gaining Weight During Pregnancy
I am currently pregnant with my second child. I am 14 weeks along and feel very sick. I feel nauseous and weak all the time, wake up at night due to the nausea, and have been unable to gain any weight. I am currently at my pre-pregnancy weight. (I am 135 lb and 5' 4").
When I was pregnant with my first child, I had the same problem, only it was worse. By the beginning of the end of the second trimester, I had lost 8 lbs. Yet by week 20, the nausea began to go away and by week 36, I'd gained 27 lb! I had a healthy, 8 lb 11 oz baby boy. He is now 2 1/2 and doing great.
This time, I would really like to have a healthier pregnancy with gradual, stable weight gain, less nausea, and more energy. I'm encouraged by the fact that I haven't actually lost weight. But it's difficult to get the best nutrition. My vegan prenatal vitamins upset my stomach and so does brewer's yeast and algae-derived DHA.
I've tried every vegan anti-nausea cure I've come across. The only thing that works is ipecacuanha, which reduces the hypersalivation related to my nausea.
In any case, I had several blood tests done during my last pregnancy and all of my levels were normal. I'm using a midwife this time, but during my last pregnancy my doctors could find nothing wrong that would cause weight loss or excess nausea. My diet is balanced and varied - I make sure to eat lots of almond milk, fortified cereals, beans, nuts, and fresh fruits and vegetables. I take a calcium supplement. Yet I'm so nauseous and tired that I have a hard time doing anything. I'm even afraid to leave the house, since I've occasionally lost my lunch in public.
Please help!
(By: Colorado Mom)
Category: Health Questions
Question:
My teen daughter went from vegetarian to vegan at the start of the year, she is 16 years old, but I am concerned about her weight which has gone down significantly. How do I make sure she gets enough calories?
(By: Laura B.)
Category: Health Questions
ANS: Question:
I have to make this brief since I am late getting out of town for a few days. A vegan diet can be one of the best diets in the world or it could be one of the worse. Let me explain. If your daughter eats a junk vegan diet it can be dangerous to her health. On the other hand if she eats a well balanced diet you should see an improvement in her health. Yes, she will loose weight but it should not be dangerously low. If she gets too thin than there is a problem. She may be eating a junk vegan diet, which is even worse than a junk meat diet, or she has another problem. Please have her read books on a good vegan diet. There are many out there. She could also go to:
You are the parent and even though you may disagree with her choice of diet, you can still make sure that she eats a well balanced vegan diet. Do not allow her to eat a junk vegan diet. At her age it could be dangerous to her health. Be as alarmed as you would be if she ate a junk meat diet. Both are bad for her. Insist that if she eats a vegan diet that it must be a good vegan diet. I hope that this helps and I am sorry that i have to run. I am already late.
(By: Doc)
Category: Health Questions
ANS: Question:
A healthy vegan diet, with lots of fruits and vegetables, is not very calorie-dense. That means you may actually need to eat more food to get the same number of calories you were eating on a meat diet. If your daughter is eating a lot of grains, vegetables, and beans (which is good) she can increase her calories by eating more, or by adding some fat (oil, avocado, nuts).
It's important to remember that some fat is necessary for healthy cells, skin, and hair, and your daughter should make sure to include some healthy fats.
Using an online calorie/nutrient calculator can help your daughter make sure she is getting the calories and vitamins she needs. Try searching for "vitamin intake online calculator." If she's not eating enough, or if she continues to lose weight, definitely talk to a doctor or nutritionist.
(By: Rocketkoala)
Category: Health Questions
Previous posts <<
Question: if I eat nuts and soon after that some berries or seaweed. can the stomach acid needed to break down the nuts be too strong and destroy the nutrients from the berries or seaweed?
[By: @ 2015-03-20, 18:05 | Reply | Print ](By: brendon)
Category: Health Questions