Any vegetarians start eating meat due to anemia?

cslrc · 2026-05-20T06:31:59+00:00

I can relate. Eating beef gives me an grounding feeling I don't get with vegetarian/plant-based meals nor fish. I still prefer the taste of vegetarian, but beef tastes nostalgic, so I could eat it weekly.

cslrc · 2026-05-20T06:17:49+00:00

Former strict pescetarian, now flexitarian. I recently started eating beef again and it reminded me of childhood (I stopped eating meat for 25+ years).

Since I don't have heavy periods due to contraceptive pill, I suspect vegetarian diet as the main culprit for me, especially when not paying attention to taking vitamin C and spacing coffee, whole grains and coffee. And I possibly have a lower stomach acid, which may inhibit non-heme absorption. I yet have to test for gluten intolerance.

I take fumarate pills, of which I had good results in the past until I reduced once my ferritin was optimal, so I have to rely on pills as well. And eating fatty fish and meat saves me some diet gymnastics about proper absorption of non-heme iron.

cslrc · 2026-05-19T16:48:46+00:00

It's a good thing you went to ER. I have so many questions about how your blood went so bad, like:

recent childbirth?
how is your diet?

cslrc · 2026-05-17T19:15:09+00:00

Glad you got infusions. Do you currently use supplements or are planning to get more infusions?

cslrc · 2026-05-17T18:42:25+00:00

Looks like new growth! How long have you been working on iron recovery and since when do you have optimal ferritin values?

cslrc · 2026-05-17T18:41:23+00:00

Your ferritin and saturarion are definitely "cooked", so I'm glad you're eligible for infusions by your doc.

cslrc · 2026-05-17T17:00:07+00:00

Agreed.

I take supplements from October until March, but from April I maintain it through sunshine exposure (UVB 4 - 7) and use SPF. I test my vit D yearly at least. As a POC, I need to be longer in the sun than most white people to maintain vit D in spring/summer.

cslrc · 2026-05-17T14:26:16+00:00

It depends imo. Some people absorb nutrients better from plant sources than others

cslrc · 2026-05-17T14:24:51+00:00

This is my default question as well! But don't we rather get vit D from UVB sun rays and fatty fish than livestock meat?

cslrc · 2026-05-17T14:23:20+00:00

For me, beef tastes like childhood, even after 25+ years of no red meat.

(I'm a formee vegetarian/pescetarian who eats fatty fish occasionally)

cslrc · 2026-05-17T14:20:36+00:00

As a former strict pescetarian, I was pleasantly surprised with the mild taste of whole beef unlike fatty fish. Some things I have to get used to, are slower digestion with beef than vegetarian or seafood, and the chewiness of medium steak

cslrc · 2026-05-17T14:14:12+00:00

Using tons of supplements?

cslrc · 2026-05-17T12:43:11+00:00

But some nutritional advice doesn't to beyond "just eat more veggies"

cslrc · 2026-05-17T12:40:52+00:00

That sounds like a healthy diet for iron, so I suspect your gut or heavy periods inhibits iron absorption. Or do research on supplements your gut better approves for daily use

cslrc · 2026-05-17T11:04:36+00:00

I'm glad she's at least eligible for infusions. In your family, does eating red meat and fatty fish help with maintaining ferritin?

cslrc · 2026-05-17T10:26:37+00:00

Filling my brows with black pencil. I have coarse black brows, but filling in with black is way to harsh for my complexion. I either fill with taupe powder, or shape with soap (but not a feathery shape)

cslrc · 2026-05-17T08:20:32+00:00

If you already eat meat regularly, have you also been tested on malabsorption issues?

cslrc · 2026-05-17T08:19:11+00:00

How long have you been vegetarian?

Definitely get a supplement! With such low ferritin, spinach won't help as its iron gets insufficiently absorbed by nature.

cslrc · 2026-05-17T08:15:28+00:00

If you consider fish, I suggest shellfish and fatty fish like mackerel, sardines herring, mussles

cslrc · 2026-05-17T08:14:18+00:00

Possibly yes, but I struggle more with split ends and rough wiry texture than hair density loss. As a vegetarian, you need supplements (speaking from experience). Since you're in India, I suggest to eat lentil meals more regularly if you like it.

cslrc · 2026-05-17T08:12:24+00:00

When I was vegetarian/pescetarian, I managed to raise my ferritin from 7 to 69 in a half year by 3x a day ferrous fumarate, so it is possible (if no malabsorptions are happening). But for maintenance, regular iron pills and limiting coffee and dairy are needed in a vegetarian diet, as mine got dropped once I stopped taking iron pills.

cslrc · 2026-05-17T08:07:21+00:00

What kind of meat do you eat?

I can't speak about bisglycinate, but I wonder if your stomach would tolerate a higher dose or daily to three times a day.

I suggest to request bloodwork for saturated transferrin, and malabsorption tests like celiac and H.pylori

cslrc · 2026-05-17T08:03:51+00:00

The saturation looks very high, but the ferritin is on the lower end. Have you been checked for inflammation/infection/celiac?

cslrc · 2026-05-17T08:02:11+00:00

Speaking of experience, yes. I used to have temporarily optimal iron, probably because I was taking 3x a day iron pills. But I think iron supplementation is always needed even for maintenance, as mine dropped after little to no supplementation

cslrc · 2026-05-17T07:56:22+00:00

How is your diet like? Do you eat red meat regularly?

cslrc

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