Vegetarian cooking (rec.food.veg.cooking) Discussion of matters related to the procurement, preparation, cooking, nutritional value and eating of vegetarian foods.

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Default Vegetarian Diet Nutrition and Energy Levels

Hi there,

I have been a vegetarian for most of the last decade, but one thing
that concerns me is my very poor energy level. Although I am not old (I
am 32), I often feel tired and deflated, and I have to set my alarm
clock an hour before I actually get up as it takes me this long to
summon the will to get out of bed (incidentally, I have never been a
good sleeper either). I was wondering if this could be diet related, as
I have read that vegetarians who return to eating meat find that their
energy levels rocket upwards. Is there any scientific basis to this
idea, and if so are there alternatives to eating meat that I can try? I
really don't want to eat meat again, but I would certainly try herbal
supplements or altering my diet while remaining a vegetarian. Any
assistance offered would be gratefully received.

Many thanks,

QH
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Steve
 
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wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> I have been a vegetarian for most of the last decade, but one thing
> that concerns me is my very poor energy level. Although I am not old (I
> am 32), I often feel tired and deflated, and I have to set my alarm
> clock an hour before I actually get up as it takes me this long to
> summon the will to get out of bed (incidentally, I have never been a
> good sleeper either). I was wondering if this could be diet related, as
> I have read that vegetarians who return to eating meat find that their
> energy levels rocket upwards. Is there any scientific basis to this
> idea, and if so are there alternatives to eating meat that I can try? I
> really don't want to eat meat again, but I would certainly try herbal
> supplements or altering my diet while remaining a vegetarian. Any
> assistance offered would be gratefully received.


Hi QH;

I have been a vegetarian for over 26 years. I have seen this sort of
thing before. Most of the time it is about people not eating a balanced
diet. People are very bad about accurately assessing what they eat.

You might want to take the time to review these brief veggie nutrition
links and then keep a log for a week or two to see if you truly are
getting all of your nutrients. The results may surprise you:

http://www.geocities.com/beforewisdo...ealthyVeg.html

http://www.veganhealth.org

A lack of adequate b-12 or omega 3 fatty acids could be the culprit.
Most of the time it is relying on processed and low nutrition foods
( the pasta, bagel, and iceberg lettuce salad diet ) as well as not
eating enough of the really nutritious vegetables.

For improving your sleep I recommend this book:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

There are many things not related to diet that can make a person feel as
if they have a lack of energy.

Not getting enough exercise ( or too much ), not getting enough water,
their jobs, their relationships, their lives etc.

Good Luck!




Steve

Be A Healthy Vegan Or Vegetarian
http://www.geocities.com/beforewisdo...ealthyVeg.html

Steve's Home Page
http://www.geocities.com/beforewisdom/

"The great American thought trap: It is not real
unless it can be seen on television or bought in a
shopping mall"
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Etain
 
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It could also be a food allergy. I have an allergy to corn and corn
based products (maize starch, etc), and since I have cut it out, my
energy level has increased tremendously. I had been tired for about 9
years. If you aren't malnurished, as someone else suggested, then try
cutting things out one at a time for a couple weeks. Keep a diary of
what you've eaten and see which days correspond to the most tired days.
I also found other symptoms ended when I cut out corn...symptoms I'd
lived with my whole life, so I just assumed they were normal.
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D.E.
 
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"Just Cocky" > schreef in bericht
...
> On Fri, 2 Sep 2005 15:10:13 GMT, wrote:
>>
>>I have been a vegetarian for most of the last decade, but one thing
>>that concerns me is my very poor energy level. Although I am not old (I
>>am 32), I often feel tired and deflated, and I have to set my alarm
>>clock an hour before I actually get up as it takes me this long to
>>summon the will to get out of bed (incidentally, I have never been a
>>good sleeper either). I was wondering if this could be diet related, as
>>I have read that vegetarians who return to eating meat find that their
>>energy levels rocket upwards. Is there any scientific basis to this
>>idea, and if so are there alternatives to eating meat that I can try? I
>>really don't want to eat meat again, but I would certainly try herbal
>>supplements or altering my diet while remaining a vegetarian. Any
>>assistance offered would be gratefully received.
>>

>
> Well, assuming you are disease-free, you could simply be malnourished.
> Many vegetarians like to gorge on high-refined carbs and forget good
> fats and protein. You may also be deficient in Vitaming B12.
>
> Things to supplement with could be:
>
> 1) Good Multivitamin, ex:
>
http://www.lef.org/newshop/items/item00659.html
>
> 2) Fish, sesame and olive oils, ex:
> http://www.lef.org/newshop/items/item00820.html


Hmm fish oil wouldn`t be right for me as a vegetarian.
Allthough a supermarket pulled a veggie meat supplement because
in the flavouring they used fish oil. You can see that you can`t trust
supermarkets. ;o)
(it wasn`t the kind I used, but still)

> 3) Whey protein (w/ Creatine and Glutamine), ex:
> http://www.lef.org/newshop/items/item00611.html
>
> At the very least, you should get a good, high-potency multivitamin.


Yeah I use that too, a long time now, but I know it is the stress from my
job ;o)
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Dr Engelbert Buxbaum
 
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Susan wrote:


> Each time, resuming consumption of animal protein reversed the awful
> weakness and difficulty waking and getting started each day.


Then the diet was not really balanced. Note also that a vegetarian diet
may contain animal proteins from milk products and eggs. A vegan diet
without any animal products is a complicated effort, requires constant
attention to proper mixing of protein sources and supplementation with
Vit. B12, which is not produced by plants. Especially for growing
children not something I'd recommend.

The point I was making in my earlier post is that the symptoms described
by the OP can have several causes, most not related to nutrition and
easily rectified once diagnosed. But that can not be done over the
internet.
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Steve
 
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Dr Engelbert Buxbaum wrote:
> Then the diet was not really balanced. Note also that a vegetarian diet
> may contain animal proteins from milk products and eggs. A vegan diet
> without any animal products is a complicated effort, requires constant
> attention to proper mixing of protein sources


Many, many children do well and do better on a vegan diet. It is not
complicated. If someone wants to get another opinion about this you can
read a site authored by a registered dietitian:

http://www.veganhealth.org.

You can also check out the url in my sig for nutrition books by RDs who
coauthored the ADA position paper on Vegetarianism. I've m
Steve

Be A Healthy Vegan Or Vegetarian
http://www.geocities.com/beforewisdo...ealthyVeg.html

Steve's Home Page
http://www.geocities.com/beforewisdom/

"The great American thought trap: It is not real
unless it can be seen on television or bought in a
shopping mall"
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Susan
 
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x-no-archive: yes

Dr Engelbert Buxbaum wrote:

> Then the diet was not really balanced.


First of all, "balanced" is a garbage word in diet. Everyone means
something different by it.


Note also that a vegetarian diet
> may contain animal proteins from milk products and eggs.


She was eating eggs and dairy. Her supplemental shakes were whey
peptide, with yogurt and frozen fruits.

A vegan diet
> without any animal products is a complicated effort, requires constant
> attention to proper mixing of protein sources and supplementation with
> Vit. B12, which is not produced by plants. Especially for growing
> children not something I'd recommend.


Nor for any human, actually. Any diet that causes chronic absence of a
vital nutrient is not one we are meant to live on long term. I don't
believe in the mixing of protein sources as a practical nor effective
means to optimize health.

>
> The point I was making in my earlier post is that the symptoms described
> by the OP can have several causes, most not related to nutrition and
> easily rectified once diagnosed. But that can not be done over the
> internet.


And the point I was making is that in our very nutritionally
informed/educated family, vegetarianism, even with adequate protein
levels, caused weakness and ill health. Replacing vegetarian sources of
protein with animal protein reversed the weakness and wellbeing ensued
each and every time.

Your assertion that the vegetarian diet not be considered a likely cause
was, well, wrong.

Susan


== From the Moderators ==

The moderators would like to point out that Usenet is really not the
right place to go for medical advice. Unusual or unpleasant symptoms
such as unexplained weakness or poor energy levels should always be
reported to a qualified medical practitioner.

With that in mind, we suggest that this thread has mostly likely run its useful course. There is no fundamental reason to question the soundness of a vegetarian diet from a nutritional and scientific perspective. Thus, let's get back to food and cooking!
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D.E.
 
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"Susan" > schreef in bericht
...
> [excessive quoting removed by moderator/Gedge]
> And the point I was making is that in our very nutritionally
> informed/educated family, vegetarianism, even with adequate protein
> levels, caused weakness and ill health. Replacing vegetarian sources of
> protein with animal protein reversed the weakness and wellbeing ensued
> each and every time.


I have to go by your word, and how were those who choose to be
vegetarian treated by the rest? I know that my well being in the beginning
was influenced by the people surrounding me, talking negative about my
choice.
After a while there came acceptance, and a better well being.
So many things to take into account in such situations.
But it might be a genetical thing, just like my mother can`t take in vitamin
B12, so she gets injections. (No she isn`t a vegetarian ;o) )
There are so many variables, and if you think/know that animal proteins
make you feel better, and you have no problem with it, then just do
what you think feels right.
Many people eat less meat too, and still feel good, so who knows.

> Your assertion that the vegetarian diet not be considered a likely cause
> was, well, wrong.


You can`t proof that it was the cause like we can`t proof it wasn`t.


> Susan

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