Guest guest Posted September 11, 2006 Report Share Posted September 11, 2006 Thanks for all the advice. i do eat a lot of nuts, beans, soy milk and soy fortified foods. i am thinking that i have a zinc deficiency because my skin has also freaked out and i have terrible acne. i have also wondered about the thyroid thing and have often thought that maybe a problem with me. i am going to get my levels tested. thanks for the help and links. i appreciate the support. i do not have any friends who have this same lifestyle so it is nice to have you all. -sarah --- rtillmansmail <rtillmansmail wrote: > Sarah, > I agree with Liz but want to warn you that many > doctors still do not > know what a normal thyroid level is. My husband is > hypothyroid and > we had to tell his DR. about the studies in the > Lancet a few years > ago recommending bringing the TSH close to 1. She > wanted to keep them > at four. And, recently, we had a friend whose DR. > wanted to keep hers > at 8. So, you should find some references to print > and take to the > appointment with you. If you are hypothroid, insist > on having your > levels check twice yearly as the TSH fluctuates with > the seasons and > medication may need to be adjusted. My SIL has a > very progressive DR. > and has her levels checked every 3 months. Does > anyone in your family > have ADD, fibromyalgia or hyper/hypothryroidism? It > would be well > worth your time to have your TSH levels checked if > this is the case. > These conditions are all expressed on the same gene > and run in > families. > > I do know of many people who transitioned to > veganism that complained > of transient hair loss and had no apparent medical > or nutritional > issues. After the hair growth cycle is completed > (there are 3 > stages), hair loss and thin hair doesn't seem to be > a problem. I was > one of these people and my hair is now thicker and > grows faster than > when I was vegetarian (and it grew faster as a > vegetarian than an > omnivore). Maybe this has something to do with > eliminating toxins > from your body. However, it can also be a zinc > deficiency (which can > also cause acne). Dairy provides about 55% of the > population with the > RDA for zinc. If you were one of them, you may need > an adjustment > period in your diet that allows for the missing > dairy (or other zinc > source). There are good plant sources for zinc. Here > are two links > about zinc in the vegan diet: > > http://www.veganoutreach.org/health/stayinghealthy.html#zinc > http://vegrd.vegan.com/pages/article.php?id=1516 > > > Good luck, > Carrol > > , ERB <bakwin > wrote: > > > > Sarah wrote: > > > > <<hi, i have a couple questions that i am seeking > advice for. > although i have been a vegetarian most of my life i > have only been a > vegan for a few months. recently i am having a lot > of hair falling > out. i am wondering if this is normal. >> > > > > I've made this point on this list before, so you > old-timers, cover > your eyes! > > > > A lot of disparate symptoms are erroneously > attributed to a veg > diet. If your hair is falling out, a simple logical > test which your > doctor *should* do (instead of blaming it on your > diet!) is a TSH > test, which is a blood test. It tests the level of > thyroid > stimulating hormone in your body. If the number is > much over 1, it > means your body is working overtime trying to > stimulate your thyroid > to put out hormone. The endocrine system affects > every part of your > body, so there are literally thousands of " common " > symptoms, but hair > loss is one of the top ten. > > > > Some doctors have argued that as much as 1/3 of > post-partum > depression might actually be thyroid related. In > many of those > cases -- especially if treated promptly -- it can be > temporary. But > it can also be a permanent autoimmune dysfunction > that would have to > be treated daily for the rest of the patient's life. > Women who have > been pregnant are significantly more likely than > another other group > to develop an autoimmune disease such as this one. > > > > Good luck, > > > > Liz > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2006 Report Share Posted September 11, 2006 Try meetup and to find vegs in your area. sarah gray <sgraystar wrote: Thanks for all the advice. i do eat a lot of nuts, beans, soy milk and soy fortified foods. i am thinking that i have a zinc deficiency because my skin has also freaked out and i have terrible acne. i have also wondered about the thyroid thing and have often thought that maybe a problem with me. i am going to get my levels tested. thanks for the help and links. i appreciate the support. i do not have any friends who have this same lifestyle so it is nice to have you all. -sarah --- rtillmansmail wrote: > Sarah, > I agree with Liz but want to warn you that many > doctors still do not > know what a normal thyroid level is. My husband is > hypothyroid and > we had to tell his DR. about the studies in the > Lancet a few years > ago recommending bringing the TSH close to 1. She > wanted to keep them > at four. And, recently, we had a friend whose DR. > wanted to keep hers > at 8. So, you should find some references to print > and take to the > appointment with you. If you are hypothroid, insist > on having your > levels check twice yearly as the TSH fluctuates with > the seasons and > medication may need to be adjusted. My SIL has a > very progressive DR. > and has her levels checked every 3 months. Does > anyone in your family > have ADD, fibromyalgia or hyper/hypothryroidism? It > would be well > worth your time to have your TSH levels checked if > this is the case. > These conditions are all expressed on the same gene > and run in > families. > > I do know of many people who transitioned to > veganism that complained > of transient hair loss and had no apparent medical > or nutritional > issues. After the hair growth cycle is completed > (there are 3 > stages), hair loss and thin hair doesn't seem to be > a problem. I was > one of these people and my hair is now thicker and > grows faster than > when I was vegetarian (and it grew faster as a > vegetarian than an > omnivore). Maybe this has something to do with > eliminating toxins > from your body. However, it can also be a zinc > deficiency (which can > also cause acne). Dairy provides about 55% of the > population with the > RDA for zinc. If you were one of them, you may need > an adjustment > period in your diet that allows for the missing > dairy (or other zinc > source). There are good plant sources for zinc. Here > are two links > about zinc in the vegan diet: > > http://www.veganoutreach.org/health/stayinghealthy.html#zinc > http://vegrd.vegan.com/pages/article.php?id=1516 > > > Good luck, > Carrol > > , ERB > wrote: > > > > Sarah wrote: > > > > <> advice for. > although i have been a vegetarian most of my life i > have only been a > vegan for a few months. recently i am having a lot > of hair falling > out. i am wondering if this is normal. >> > > > > I've made this point on this list before, so you > old-timers, cover > your eyes! > > > > A lot of disparate symptoms are erroneously > attributed to a veg > diet. If your hair is falling out, a simple logical > test which your > doctor *should* do (instead of blaming it on your > diet!) is a TSH > test, which is a blood test. It tests the level of > thyroid > stimulating hormone in your body. If the number is > much over 1, it > means your body is working overtime trying to > stimulate your thyroid > to put out hormone. The endocrine system affects > every part of your > body, so there are literally thousands of " common " > symptoms, but hair > loss is one of the top ten. > > > > Some doctors have argued that as much as 1/3 of > post-partum > depression might actually be thyroid related. In > many of those > cases -- especially if treated promptly -- it can be > temporary. But > it can also be a permanent autoimmune dysfunction > that would have to > be treated daily for the rest of the patient's life. > Women who have > been pregnant are significantly more likely than > another other group > to develop an autoimmune disease such as this one. > > > > Good luck, > > > > Liz > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > > > > > > For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to http://www.vrg.org/family.This is a discussion list and is not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. edical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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