Vegetarianism and Bruising, What Can You Tell Me That I Need to Know?
If you are currently a vegetarian or if you are considering becoming one, you may be somewhat concerned about the effects that vegetarianism may have on your body's systems, with some additional attention to bruising easily. The fact of the matter is that while there is an old wives' tale that says that people who are vegetarians are subject to bruising, there is no reason that a little careful scrutiny of your diet can overcome it.
The first thing that we need to tackle is why the theory of vegetarians being prone to bruising exists at all. Typically, if a vegetarian, particularly a young one, suffers from bruising, this is seen as a sign of a vitamin deficiency. This can, and in some cases does, happen, but if you pay close attention to your diet and make sure that you are getting all of the foods and nutrients that you need, this should not be a problem. There are a host of problems that can result if you are shorting yourself a vitamin or mineral that you need, but there is nothing about a vegetarian diet that promotes bruising any more than any other diet.
If you are eating as a vegan and have discerned that you seem to tend toward increased bruising, you'll discover that one thing that should be examined is the amount of iron available from your diet. Iron is a beneficial mineral when it comes to enhancing your immune system and promoting a healthier circulatory system. Iron can be found in much higher quantities in animal products than in vegetables, but vegetables also contain iron, just not as abundantly.
If you are following a vegan diet, are you aware of the best ways to increase iron in your diet? Start off by looking for dark green vegetables that are available at a local produce stand or farmers' market. Vegetables that include spinach and broccoli are going to be heavy in iron, as will soy products, molasses, prunes and any cereals and breads that have been fortified with iron. Another clever way to be assured that you are going to increase iron in your diet is to start cooking with cast iron pots and pans.
Another excellent way to augment the rate of iron that is absorbed into your body is by upping your intake of vitamin C. Vitamin C is very important for a variety of different reasons, so there is no excuse to not take a lot of it. Naturally fruits are an excellent source of vitamin C, but so are more dinner and meal targeted vegetables, like sweet potatoes.
If you are a practicing vegetarian, it is very important that you make sure that you are going to be able to eat a balanced diet, and easy bruising is one sign that you may need to focus on your diet a little more closely. Be mindful of what your body is trying to tell you, and make sure that you are eating what you need to eat to keep you healthy.
About the author:
Carolyn Cooper is recognized as a well known expert on bruising causes through a combination of her educational experience in nutrition and her real life expertise with nutritional supplements for athletes, ranging from children to the professional ranks. You can get a free Special Report on bruising causes and see what she's done to get you beyond the nightmares of easy bruising and help you prevent bruising altogether.
