Posted by noa on June 20, 2003, at 19:41:26
In reply to Re: Lenient VegetarianDiets can still cause B12 De, posted by stjames on June 20, 2003, at 13:09:36
I have a relative who is a cancer survivor and has been on a strict macrobiotic diet for about 15 years and has remained cancer-free. Who knows if the macrobiotic diet has any thing to do with it, but I'm sure he isn't about to make any changes given that things have gone so well for so long.
I have another relative who is a long time vegetarian and then became a vegan a few years ago and forgot about the need to add B12 via supplements and became deficient in B12, her primary symptom being severe chronic fatigue. After B12 treatment (series of injections, etc.), she got better, and now uses a B12 supplement every day.
As for the variety thing--I think variety is a good principle but also some deliberate attention to amino acids, such as through combos of beans, grains, etc. (a la "Diet for a Small Planet") is important. I think that lacto-ovo-vegies have less to worry about in terms of the amino-acid intake than vegans. It certainly can be done and done healthfully, but some deliberate attention to certain nutrients is called for.
As for me, I became a vegetarian (lacto-ovo) way back in my early teens. In my late twenties, I started having yearly episodes of strong fish cravings. I would indulge these and then the cravings would go away. But the craving would return eventually and soon I discovered I seemed to really 'need' fish, or at least it felt like my body was saying I needed fish. So, in my early thirties, I just decided to become a fish eater. In light of how well I've responded to the fish oil in the past 6 months, I am convinced I read my cravings correctly.
poster:noa
thread:235091
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030619/msgs/235564.html