Vegetarian or Vegan? Here’s How to Avoid B12 and Iron Deficiency
Are you vegetarian or vegan? Learn how to avoid B12 and iron deficiency with plant-based foods, supplements, and smart nutrition tips. Stay energized and healthy on a meat-free diet. Introduction Adopting a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle comes with countless health benefits—lower cholesterol, reduced inflammation, and improved digestion, to name a few. But going meat-free can also increase your risk of B12 and iron deficiencies , especially if you're not paying attention to key nutrients. In this post, we’ll explore why these deficiencies are common in plant-based diets—and how you can avoid them with the right foods and supplements. Why Vegans and Vegetarians Are Prone to B12 and Iron Deficiency Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal products—meat, eggs, and dairy. Without these, vegans are especially at risk. Iron from plants (non-heme iron) is harder for the body to absorb than the iron from animal sources (heme iron). Many people unknowingly live with low iron or B...