Anemia

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I have had to start eating red meat again due to Anemia. I recently learned how common it is among women. Does anyone else experience severe tiredness because of it?

yes. I was vegetarian for 8 years and always found it difficult but I was a teenager and assumed it was my hormones or something. Then I got pregnant and went meat crazy - eating pork in lard for breakfast. I've never been able to be veggie again without getting tired and pale. I don't eat much meat but I must have a bit every other day. I tried taking pills but some people have problems digesting iron that isn't from meat and I guess I must be one of them. It runs in my family - my mum and both sisters have it and for all of us it's worse when you're growing, pregnant, running marathons or stressed.

I'm mildly anemic right now. My doctor says it's probably because my period is heavier than usual. But I've always needed to eat red meat on a regular basis in order to be able to get out of bed in the morning. My mother is the same way.

Once, I had a doctor put me on iron pills after a routine blood test. Then when my iron levels were up again, she asked me if I felt better. I couldn't tell the difference - I was so overwhelmed regardless. The look on her face when I told her that was pretty funny.

Shoot. I was vegan for a long time, knowing that the world would be cured of everything if everyone was vegan. Then, I realised I was anemic. I went through a bottle of the best iron and B12 combo pills I could get my hands on. They worked for the first few days, but they weren't consistent, and I never forgot to take one, so now I do believe that there is something different about iron and B12 in the meat I eat compared to the pills. Even if I take them, I still have to eat red meat at least a few times a week. I feel like I can go for a few days without meat, but I start to lose my appetite, and not want to eat anything. If I don't eat enough, I will sleep all day. My period makes me lose my appetite on the heaviest day. I rarely want food then. I usually get a big appetite right before it starts, and then have a drive to replenish after it's over with. I have really sensitive bowels during my period, and every bowel movement hurts my uterus, ouch.

I have been iron-deficient for a long time and the lack of energy has affected me. I have eaten red meat 1-2 times a week, with chicken and fish being my primary meat choice. I also have other health issues, but when discussing symptoms with doctors, they only prescribed iron pills (which made me sick to my stomach and hurt my gut) so I don't take them. I recently discovered on my own through diet modification that I am likely wheat/gluten intolerant. I had a ton of other symptoms too in addition to the anemia. Not one doctor has caught on to this possibility and its been years of me exhibiting symptoms. There is a genetic link to my experience with my family medical history too.

I have found that I have increased my energy since going gluten/wheat free for a few weeks. I discovered that with this type of intolerance, the body has a harder time absorbing nutrients and iron-deficiency is common. I am in the process of figuring out if a formal diagnosis is necessary, however, I plan on keeping with this diet for life as it has helped with energy levels, mental focus, my moods, and physical comfort in such a noticable way.

The Canadian Sheild is apparently very good for growing marijuana, but not much good for anything else.

We have all the cool temperate crops, only just along the southern fringe of the country where all our cities are. In Ottawa where I grew up we had apple trees but it was too cold for other fruit trees. North of the agricultural zone you get berries, and that's it for fruit. At the cottage the soil was so acid we had lots and lots of green beans (legumes are nitrogen fixers) and that's about all that thrived. A bit of leaf lettuce. Parsley. In the city my mother grew tomatoes. There's the three sisters: corn, beans, and squash, as long as the soil is ok (southern and eastern Ontario). They make a good soup together (use lima beans and acorn squash). In hippie country they have small market gardens and exotic livestock.

Of course they grow a lot of wheat on the prairies, but I think that's all agribusiness these days.

I think people in the North hunt a lot of their food, but most Canadians don't hunt. I caught a fish once but have never hunted. And I think living off the land is a very marginal existence. I'd rather herd than hunt.

The new diet is good and the simplicity of it is awesome. No major medical intervention required because all I have to do is read labels and I find myself gravitating away from process foods to whole foods. For me, coming from a long history of medical interventions, I am grateful to be free from going under a doctors knife. This new lifestyle would do well for me, especially if I ever choose to live a simple existance of self-sustainability through micro-farming. Hunting and gathering are more primitive but necessary means to survival and coincide with my new diet change too!