Bugger! | Animals Australia Unleashed

AmeliaJ QLD • Posts: 164

1 2 Nov 2010

Went to the docs yesterday as I've been feeling really run down- had a cold a few weeks ago and it was just after I had donated blood, plus handed in my thesis and finished uni.... so a very stressful time on the old body and brain. Requested a blood test as I just had my "5 month anniversary" of going veg, so I wanted to check to make sure everything was OK.

I had my friend, who is studying dietetics/ nutrition, analyse my diet and she said it looked good, just to get the odd blood test to make sure everything was humming along as it should. Well, bugger, turns out I am low on iron (not anaemic though) and B12. Spoke to doc about the plant-based tonics you can get which have both Iron and B vitamins, C, etc (Floradix?) and he said they were really poorly absorbed, so to take iron tablets. Am also having a B12 injection as apparently its nigh impossible to absorb in supplement form (I'm sure I've read that here too at some point).

So it's good news in that I know why I've been feeling so lame lately, but back news because I thought my diet was pretty damn good!! Which makes me think.... I wonder how nutrient-deprived our food sources are, as a result of overfarming, not letting the soils rejuvenate etc. I would easily have my RDIs of Iron etc (and my dietician friend confirmed this with her awesome knowledge!) so what is going on with our food?!

Anyway, boring personal story/ramble there, but I was seriously ticked off as I thought I was doing the right things! apple

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ZoolNerd NSW • Posts: 1005

2 2 Nov 2010

Are you veg or vegan?

Im not vegan (still eat cheese) but I do still eat fortified foods with b12 in it.. Like Marmite happy

Thats sticky to the tongue.

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AmeliaJ QLD • Posts: 164

3 2 Nov 2010

Just vegetarian. Which is even more silly! Although I do avoid most dairy...... except me and my damn chocolate and icecream addiction.... and hardly ever have eggs, so I don't expect to get much nutrition from my intake of these. I choose fortified soy milk with all the good stuff added, plus delicious Bakers Delight Capeseed loaf which is meant to be packed with goodies... Mmmm just frustrating!

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ZoolNerd NSW • Posts: 1005

4 3 Nov 2010

AmeliaJ said:

Just vegetarian. Which is even more silly! Although I do avoid most dairy...... except me and my damn chocolate and icecream addiction.... and hardly ever have eggs, so I don't expect to get much nutrition from my intake of these. I choose fortified soy milk with all the good stuff added, plus delicious Bakers Delight Capeseed loaf which is meant to be packed with goodies... Mmmm just frustrating!

Thats scary! As I said, im vegetarian, but I dont eat anything except cheese rarely.. Im going to get checked my soon myself. Ive been Vegetarian since May.

I dont want needles.. Did it hurt?

How did your dr handle it? did they act like your "harming" your body?

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Brendon NSW • Posts: 1212

5 3 Nov 2010

I hate needles but B12 needles are the best as they make you feel all warm (a little faint as well) but save you having to worry about oral supplements.
What have you been eating to have such low iron?
Increase the iron/vitamin C inload!!!

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ckimana NSW • Posts: 2545

6 4 Nov 2010

I take Freeda B12 lozenges. And I was surprised how yummy they are! I'm vegan and my B12 is good, but I don't normally consume fortified B12 products so I take it as a precaution.

Amelia, some ppl can't absorb iron properly... but are you sure you are eating properly? I'm vegan and my levels are normal. And I don't eat healthy all the time, but make an effort to eat properly *if that makes sense, lol*

http://www.vegsoc.org/info/vegan-nutrition.html

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wild child2 QLD • Posts: 2638

7 4 Nov 2010

Bugger indeed.

Are you a heavy exerciser?
You can lose alot of iron through excessive sweating etc....

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AmeliaJ QLD • Posts: 164

8 4 Nov 2010

ZoolNerd said:

AmeliaJ said:

Just vegetarian. Which is even more silly! Although I do avoid most dairy...... except me and my damn chocolate and icecream addiction.... and hardly ever have eggs, so I don't expect to get much nutrition from my intake of these. I choose fortified soy milk with all the good stuff added, plus delicious Bakers Delight Capeseed loaf which is meant to be packed with goodies... Mmmm just frustrating!

Thats scary! As I said, im vegetarian, but I dont eat anything except cheese rarely.. Im going to get checked my soon myself. Ive been Vegetarian since May.

I dont want needles.. Did it hurt?

How did your dr handle it? did they act like your "harming" your body?

It was quite a stingy one, but not as bad as tetanus or gardasil etc. Dr was fine, he said he had no problems with it, but it would be wise to get a 6-monthly check.

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AmeliaJ QLD • Posts: 164

9 4 Nov 2010

BreadmanInAus said:

I hate needles but B12 needles are the best as they make you feel all warm (a little faint as well) but save you having to worry about oral supplements.
What have you been eating to have such low iron?
Increase the iron/vitamin C inload!!!

LOL, I didn't "love" the needle but I was so hot and bothered last night after it (normally I'm cold if the temp drops under 25 degrees- damn QLDer!) so maybe the B12 was to blame.

As I said, my dietician/nutritionist friend analysed my diet and said it was good. I think I stick to it pretty well, so I really don't know what the deal is. My only theory is that I give blood regularly so my body might be under a little extra strain. Also, my Mum has probs with her B12, so maybe I can blame her wink

But anyways, should be all good now!!

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AmeliaJ QLD • Posts: 164

10 4 Nov 2010

wild child2 said:

Bugger indeed.

Are you a heavy exerciser?
You can lose alot of iron through excessive sweating etc....

Nar, I dunno what my deal is. Hehe. But I know a few people - from long term veg to omni- who are taking iron tablets lately. I have a conspiracy theory that our food is losing its nutritional value due to over-farming. But nothing to back up that statement laugh

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