From: Harvey Newstrom (mail@HarveyNewstrom.com)
Date: Thu May 16 2002 - 08:45:33 MDT
On Thursday, May 16, 2002, at 05:15 am, Randy Smith wrote:
> I was vegan for about 10 months, and lost a lot of weight (took b12
> pills for the b12 and was sure to get at least 50 grams of vegetarian
> protein/day). However, I gave it up--it was hell on my connective
> tissues and muscles. I felt as if I were 75 years old. I could hardly
> turn my neck to see traffic behind me without some muscle pain. I also
> got frequent cricks in my neck. All gone now...
This could be low calcium, low potassium or low carnitine (vitamin Bt).
Any of these could occur when giving up meat and dairy. Low calcium
would also include tendon strains. Low potassium would also cause low
blood pressure or light-headedness when getting up too fast. Carnitine
could lead to anemia-like symptoms similar to vitamin B12 deficiency.
Despite all the health benefits of cutting back meat and dairy, a lot of
people experience problems when making a radical dietary shift. Their
body has somehow learned to manage to get all the nutrients from their
usual routine, and suddenly everything changes. Without careful
planning, it is very easy to miss a vitamin here or a mineral there. It
is easier to just eat meat, because it is pre-formed flesh with all the
nutrients in the proper proportion. Of course it also has pre-formed
cholesterol, triglycerides and salt the we want to lower.
(Of course I am not a doctor, but I play one on the net!)
-- Harvey Newstrom, CISSP <www.HarveyNewstrom.com> Principal Security Consultant <www.Newstaff.com>
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