should I take supplements?

[legendarytroy]

If I plan to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, should I take supplements to make sure i"m getting all the nutrients I need? If so, which supplements would I need. I guess all the nutrients I'm no longer getting from meat?

[Nelly]

That's a question for your doctor or your dietitian. Lots of people who follow these diets do need to take supplements but what someone else might require may not be the same for you. it all depends on the nutrients you get in your regular everyday diet. Only when you know what you're eating and what you get from this food can you know what might be missing from your diet that supplements can help you with.

[char]

I agree with Nelly. This really is something you should ask a professional. It's not a matter of just taking a multi-vitamin or guessing at which supplements you might need. In fact, I think if you know how to eat right, you won't need supplements at all. You really just need to educated yourself about the food you're eating and it's nutritional value. Likewise, you need to learn what nutritional value was in the meat and animal by-products that you are no longer consuming to figure out what you'll need and where to get it.

[legendarytroy]

That's a question for your doctor or your dietitian. Lots of people who follow these diets do need to take supplements but what someone else might require may not be the same for you. it all depends on the nutrients you get in your regular everyday diet. Only when you know what you're eating and what you get from this food can you know what might be missing from your diet that supplements can help you with.

I guess that's smart. I just wish choosing to go meatless wasn't so complicated. I mean, do you honestly get that much nutrients from meat? I know it's a great source of protein, but beyond that?? I mean, it's often labeled as not being very good for you, especially red meat. How can it be so hard to replace it??

[lia]

I guess that's smart. I just wish choosing to go meatless wasn't so complicated. I mean, do you honestly get that much nutrients from meat? I know it's a great source of protein, but beyond that?? I mean, it's often labeled as not being very good for you, especially red meat. How can it be so hard to replace it??

You do get a lot of nutrients from meat, but I think the reason why it's complicated when you just cut meat out of your diet is because you don't realize what you get from it and you've never had to because you've always eaten it. Meat, poultry and dairy are a food group and if you suddenly eliminate it from your diet or severely restrict it, of course it's going to have an effect in the same way that suddenly eliminating fruits and vegetables would effect you. If you remove a food group, you need to find out how to re-balance your diet. This may include supplements. That's why it's important you talk to a professional who understands these things and who can help you make smart choices.

[jan]

You do get a lot of nutrients from meat, but I think the reason why it's complicated when you just cut meat out of your diet is because you don't realize what you get from it and you've never had to because you've always eaten it. Meat, poultry and dairy are a food group and if you suddenly eliminate it from your diet or severely restrict it, of course it's going to have an effect in the same way that suddenly eliminating fruits and vegetables would effect you. If you remove a food group, you need to find out how to re-balance your diet. This may include supplements. That's why it's important you talk to a professional who understands these things and who can help you make smart choices.

That's a really good point lia. Thanks for sharing this. It kinda put some things into perspective for me because you're absolutely right. Essentially when you become Vegan or vegetarian you are removing a food group from your diet.

[Nelly]

You may have to take supplements but I agree with everyone here who says you should talk to a professional about that. You really need to pay way more attention to your diet if you go hardcore vegetairan or become Vegan. It's important that find out what you need and what you're lacking. It's the only way to take the right supplements. You don't want to make the mistake of just taking taking a multivitamin. While it might cover you in some ways in others you'll be over-dosing yourself. It's best to be smart about it.