So I went to the doctor's today in regards to a blood test I took two weeks ago. I wasn't in a hurry to get back to them, because I figured it was just like all my other blood tests - fine fine fine and fine across the board. But little did I know....
So I have to take 4 pills a day for 2 weeks to recover my B12 levels, and then 2 pills a day to keep them up to standards.
I won't say how low I was, just that I was dangerously low.
I was also slightly low in iron, but it wasn't a real cause for concern. She reccomended taking supplements anyway, but not nearly to the amount of the B12. One $3 bottle of iron supplements will last me about 3 months, but a hueg bottle of B12 which costs $8 will only last me 2 weeks and then 1 month at a time.
Now, I guess my body's B12 reserves suddenly ran out, because I have been getting blood tests at least once every two years and I've been vegetarian for about 7 or 8 years, and I've been fine until now. Then bam... I'm super low.
I guess it makes sense, because it was only recently that i've made an attempt to cut dairy out. (I'm not vegan - I just don't drink milk and I go low on the dairy) And as you probably know, there are zero plant sources of B12, except in miniscule amounts that do not affect dietary value at all.
So I guess this is a bit of a message to the vegetarians and vegans.... all your other nutrients can be derived from plant sources, and yes, you'll be fine for a few years if you go vegan, as long as you make sure you get enough iron. But vegans and stricter vegetarians need to either eat a lot of B12 fortified foods, or take B12 supplements, because your diet will not normally provide it.
Again, there are zero plant sources of B12. You can only find it in meat, eggs, dairy, and B12 fortified foods. Supplements should be vital for most veggie-heads.
If you're vegetarian or vegan or even if you just have a bad diet, go see your doctor and get your levels checked. Low B12 levels in the short term have some slightly annoying consequences like fatigue and tingling of the extremities, but over the long term it can cause neurological damage.
Also, she told me that many college students, due to bad nutrition, have low B12 levels - even the non-vegetarians.
I don't know if it was the overload of pills all at once or if it's just my regular bad sleeping habits, but I've been sleeping all day, and I think I'm about ready to head to sleep another 10 hours.
So I have to take 4 pills a day for 2 weeks to recover my B12 levels, and then 2 pills a day to keep them up to standards.
I won't say how low I was, just that I was dangerously low.
I was also slightly low in iron, but it wasn't a real cause for concern. She reccomended taking supplements anyway, but not nearly to the amount of the B12. One $3 bottle of iron supplements will last me about 3 months, but a hueg bottle of B12 which costs $8 will only last me 2 weeks and then 1 month at a time.
Now, I guess my body's B12 reserves suddenly ran out, because I have been getting blood tests at least once every two years and I've been vegetarian for about 7 or 8 years, and I've been fine until now. Then bam... I'm super low.
I guess it makes sense, because it was only recently that i've made an attempt to cut dairy out. (I'm not vegan - I just don't drink milk and I go low on the dairy) And as you probably know, there are zero plant sources of B12, except in miniscule amounts that do not affect dietary value at all.
So I guess this is a bit of a message to the vegetarians and vegans.... all your other nutrients can be derived from plant sources, and yes, you'll be fine for a few years if you go vegan, as long as you make sure you get enough iron. But vegans and stricter vegetarians need to either eat a lot of B12 fortified foods, or take B12 supplements, because your diet will not normally provide it.
Again, there are zero plant sources of B12. You can only find it in meat, eggs, dairy, and B12 fortified foods. Supplements should be vital for most veggie-heads.
If you're vegetarian or vegan or even if you just have a bad diet, go see your doctor and get your levels checked. Low B12 levels in the short term have some slightly annoying consequences like fatigue and tingling of the extremities, but over the long term it can cause neurological damage.
Also, she told me that many college students, due to bad nutrition, have low B12 levels - even the non-vegetarians.
I don't know if it was the overload of pills all at once or if it's just my regular bad sleeping habits, but I've been sleeping all day, and I think I'm about ready to head to sleep another 10 hours.
use small words when you talk **** about me, because you'll be eating them later
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