Vegetarians- staving off anemia

phaila

How do you keep your blood levels high without a decent source of protein? Trying to be proactive before my next blood test. I ALWAYS test anemic on blood work so trying to get one step ahead this time

Any advice?

Moderators

Hi phalia,

The main Breastcancer.org site suggests on the How Your Body Gets Nutrients From Foods page, "...low-fat dairy products, as well as nuts, dried beans, peas, and lentils" are good sources of vegetarian protein.

We hope this helps!

--The Mods

Geeper

I eat a lot of beets and cruciferous veggies. I used to be severely anemic over a year ago and had Pica (chewed a lot of ice and ate chalk.  My PCP prescribed Iron and I stopped taking the iron about 6 months ago. I get lab work every week and my platelets have been good. No anemia or calcium deficiency. I am on Taxol and I have not had neupogen or neulasta injections.  

phaila

I love beets:) especially beet juice. Plus super lowers bp! I didn't know they were good for protei

Geeper

I am not a vegetarian, but I stopped eating red meats since diagnosis of bc. I am a pescatarian and eat a lot of salmon. I also eat a lot of lentils. They are a good source of potassium, calcium, zinc, niacin and vitamin K, but are particularly rich in dietary fiber, lean protein, folate and iron.

vlnrph

Be sure to get some vitamin B12 also. Labs can detect deficiencies via blood tests