Health questions from a teen vegetarian?

I am a teen that has recently decided to become a vegetarian. I know a few people that have like brittler bones and poor muscle build that happen to be vegetarians too. Are there any ways to avoid that? and what are some vitamins I should take to get the full daily nutrient values for like calcium and vitamin B?Thankx ;D

Broccoli actually has better absorbed calcium than milk, and it's yummy. :) Besides, milk is allowable for vegetarians. As for vitamin B, the easiest way is just to take a normal one a day vitamin. Still, just do your research and you'll learn how to balance your meals and nutrients. This is one of the reasons I try to tell people to do a gradual approach, the first year giving up one type of meat, the second another, and so on until they have given up all meat some years later. While you're transitioning to vegetarian, you take that time to learn how to prepare more vegetarian dishes and how to balance your diet better.

So, what makes up a muscle build? Protein. You can get plenty of that through nuts, milk, and eggs. Soy is not recommended as a very strong source of protein for teenagers (especially girls) because it interferes with calcium absorption (among other things, fortified or not it doesn't matter if your body can't take it in.) But there's plenty of other things to use besides soy. Mushrooms, for instance. Almond and rice milk. But I would avoid soy because of the worries they have about that.

Good luck. Do your research. Read books. :)

And for the record... to the person who says you won't have to pop pills if you're an omnivore... I take a once-daily because even as an omnivore it's very difficult to get all of the vitamins you need. It's good to cover your bases. Report Abuse

Don't forget to exercise. Beans and soy are excellent sources of calcium. If you eat a lot of vegetables, like most vegetarians, you probably don't need additional vitamin B. But take some supplements if you want.

The vegetarians that you know - they are probably brittle because they don't work out. If you find that you arent' exercising like you used to, you may need to get out more and get more energy, like from fruit. So you can fill up on fruits.

I am also a teen and have been a vegetarian for four years. I was vegan for two years. I personnally didnt take any vitamins or dailies, and i still dont, and I havent had doctors say anything about my bones being brittle or anything so far. But you can avoid losing iron and other special vitamins you get from meat by replacing them with other foods such as peanut butter, tofu (you better get used to it ;D), beans, soybeans, etc.

you should be fine.
only people who don't know how to eat a balanced diet get that.
andreally.. i never did and am fine.

you don't want to start taking a calcium supplement b/c too much calcium is terrible on your bones.
be a vegetarian, eat as best you can. broccoli is seriously the best vegetable in my opinion. protein, iron, calcium.., and in a month or so get your blood checked by your doctor for b12, iron, protein, and calcium if you are worried.

calcium isn't in meat, so that shouldn't change when you become a vegetarian.

well, im a teen chick too! im a vegitarian. i do not eat any meats or fish. what i do... eat like you would. SPeggeti, bread, pizzas,mmmm pita bread and hummus. i also am worried about myself. my feet stoped growing, i wont get taller, my weight will be really heavy, then really light, excpect the not ecxpected. drink alot of milk (if not vegan) or buy veggitarian food. but the thing is, it tastes real then you crave meat although i know i will just spit it out cause, i am use too not eating meat.

apart from certain vegetables, these vitamins and minerals can be found in legumes, seeds and beans which include soy products/ drinks which is fortified so you won't have to pop pills.

jeeze louise.. being vegan is becoming a stupid trend.

just eat normally..

drink milk for craps sake.

then you won't have to worry about taking vitamins.

Have a good diet and you'll be ok.

How can you tell people have brittle bones BTW?