posted
im a vegetarian, and a lazy one at that...my reason for being one? meat dosnt sit well with my sistem and im totally against animal cruelty..ANYWAYS - a friend of mine was yelling at me because i dont take iron supplements and dont have a very high intake of soy..in his words "you dont know the majic of soy?!" so i figured id ask here? i mean i KNOW i have to do somthing about it...cause im not being healthy but i just dont know cause theres so much stuff out there...could u help me with some advice about what i should be taking to compensate for not eating meat?
------------------ i knew i was an unwanted child when i discovered my bath toys were a toaster and a radio
if pro is the opposite of con is progress the opposite of congress?
posted
I think your friend may be a little confused. There are plenty of non-animal sources of iron (e.g. spinach, broccoli, kidney beans, wholewheat bread, raisins, sunflower seeds, and apricots) so as long as you have a good intake of these you don't need to worry about not getting enough iron.
Iron supplements can actually increase oxidation (the opposite of what anti-oxidants do), so many experts now often recommend that people don't take extra iron supplements unless they actually have anaemia or have been specifically told by a doctor to take them.
Soy products (such as tofu, tempeh or soy milk) do contain a lot of micronutrients which seem to be very healthy (there's a lot of research into soy going on at the moment), and they can be good sources of iron, but they're not "magic" .
[This message has been edited by logic_grrl (edited 12-01-2002).]
some people are allergic to soy products, but that doesn't mean they can't be vegetarians. they just have to get protein from other sources. Eggs if you're lacto-ovo-veggie, or nuts if you aren't allergic to nuts (but if you're allergic to soy, you're likely to be allergic to nuts, too).
as for iron, logic_grrl listed a lot of goodies. here's a rule I like to follow: eat your dark leafy greens. dark green means a lot of pigment, and pigment is where plants carry their iron (and copper, too).
as to whether or not you're unhealthy, you can ask a nutritionist if what you're eating qualifies as healthy. what *are* you eating, btw? if it's a lot of french fries and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, then no, that's not healthy. if it's all half-portion salads with not dressing, that's still not healthy.
ps, it's spelled "maGic"
------------------ Correlation does not equal causation.
Posts: 12677 | From: Los Angeles, CA ... somewhere off the 10 | Registered: Jul 2000
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posted
You know, I've been veg for about eight years, and I don't eat much soy at all, simply because it tends to make me ill. If you like it that's cool, but you certainly can live without it, like Gummy said. A rather neat and easy way to get more iron in your diet is to use a cast iron skilet (not non-stick!) whenever possible. You'll have to use a bit of oil, but once it's seasoned (it should have instructions, or search it on Google), you won't need much at all. They're probably easiest to find in hardware stores, or places you can get camping supplies.
------------------ Milke, SSBD, RATS
Why don't you find out for yourself? Then you'll see the glass hidden in the grass
Posts: 5122 | From: I *came* from the land of ice and snow | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
The cast iron skillet is a good idea. They're great for making fajitas
Things to remember when using a cast iron skillet:
1. They're **HEAVY** 2. They conduct heat really quickly, so never grab the handle without a mitt or potholder. 3. Dry them right after you wash them, otherwise, they'll rust.
other than that, i gotta say, every kitchen needs one
------------------ Correlation does not equal causation.
Posts: 12677 | From: Los Angeles, CA ... somewhere off the 10 | Registered: Jul 2000
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