[Carley]

My friend has thalassemia and is thinking about becoming vegetarian, but every doctor has told her no, I'm trying to find out more information for her (with her permission) because she wants to try. Does anyone here have thalassemia? Or have any information that can help her? She lives in a small town like I do so medical services are some what limited. TIA.

*Thalassemia is a blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The disorder results in excessive destruction of red blood cells, which leads to anemia.

 

[Alicia Avocado]

My spouse has it. I feed him a vegan diet - and he has had his levels checked and is doing great

When it comes to thalassemia the key is to get iron from natural sources for it to truly be effective. I cook a lot of potatoes, leafy greens like spinach, and beans for him and we both eat a variety of other fruits and veg that have trace amounts. I would suggest she get a fitday account and try a vegetarian diet for a week and log what she eats on there keeping a close eye on the iron levels (it will automatically calculate it for you). You don't know until you try, but I feel she'd be just fine she would just need more iron rich veggies.