B-12?

So, last year I became a vegetarian.  This summer I visited my grandmother, who complained to my mom I wasn't getting enough B-12.  They banded together and I'm now a pescatarian.

I'm considering once again cutting out fish after I go to college (assuming it's within my price range; sucks that substitutes are always more expensive, huh?).  But if I do so, eggs will be my only source of B-12.

So, where do you get yours?

I prefer not to have a label of vegan or vegetarian.  I do eat a mostly vegan diet.  I can not tolerate milk products because I am lactose intolerant.  Even small amounts makes me feel ill.  I do not eat eggs because I just think they are gross.  I don't even like to smell them cooking.  I never eat red meat and once in a great while I eat a piece of chicken or fish. 

I add seaweed and mushrooms to almost everything.  Some believe they contain B-12 and others don't think so.  I also take a dietary supplement (vitamin) once a day.  It is formulated for a vegetarian diet.  It has B-12. 

My blood gets tested yearly because of a different medical issue and I've never been deficient in anything.  I actually had an issue with bone density and low iron during the three years I ate meat on a weekly basis.  I guess everyone is different.

A lot of foods like cereal, bread, and soy milk are fortified with B12, but if you eat any animal products you're going to be fine. Other sources for B12 are multi-vitamins and nutritional yeast. I'm vegan and never really worry about getting enough B12, though it is something I think about because I'm not eating any animal products.

People love to pick on vegetarians about B-12, but the fact is most people don't get enough B-12 and would do well taking a supplement. Take a multi everyday, and add a B-100 complex (includes B-12) to much sure you get enough of all those nutrients. Your pee will turn a really bright yellow. You can't overdo B vitamins because they are water soluable, just drink 6-10 glasses of water a day and you will pee out any your body doesn't need. I take a vitamin panel test every year. I take a lot of vitamins and the test still shows that I am deficient in folic acid, so it's really hard even when you eat right and take supplements. Consider also taking 2 grams of vitamin D everyday. I take 2 grams and I'm at the low end of acceptable. 

I am a vegetarian that does not eat fish, but I do take fish oil supplements for omega 3. The vegan version is just too expensive. 

Soymilk, Rice Dream(if you don't do soymilk, I'm going to switch over soon), Many cereals have it like Rice Chex.  Hope thoe suggestions help.  Don't worry about it.  If you are too worried multi-vitamins are a goodway to go just talk to your doctor about it first.

As for listening to others on vitamins and protein:

I don't beleive most non-vegetarians and even some vegetarians about things like vitamin B12, protien etc.  A lot of people who have tried to tell me it was unhealthy didn't do any research themelf.  They just like to think they know what they're talking about and they don't.  It's your diet and life and you need to do the research to take control.  I read several books before becoming a vegetarian and I still keep up to date with health information and re-read things to make sure I'm doing okay.  If this is the choice you want to make, that's great!  Just make sure to read up on what you need to be eating to stay healthy and how much.

Meat eater, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian....they are all lacking in something or overdoing something according to someone in the world right?  Instead of trying to figure all that out just try to eat a balanced diet.  I have been a vegetarian for 3 years and about 8 or nine months.  The only time I ever had any health problems were the six months I ate meat again, provided I was abroad(Japan for a semester).  And it wasn't because my body was unadjusted to it since I did it in very small moderation.

Many foods are supplemented with it such as some cereals and soymilk.  One serving of the Kashi cereal we eat has over 100% of your DV.  Energy drinks have (not that I am condoning them!)   Nutritional yeast has it, and you can also take a supplement.

Hm- clearly my grandmother has no idea what she's talking about.

Which is funny because she used to be a doctor.

When, in the 60's? A lot has changed since then in the field of health and nutrition.

And a lot of vegetarian products are made with this potential deficiency in mind, so they are, in fact, fortified with B12.

Between my fortified almond milk, tofu, cereal, nutritional yeast and bread, I get well over the reccomended amount of B12 every day.

Besides a supplement, you can get B-12 from nutritional yeast. I sprinkle it on veggies, instead of cheese. Scramble it with tofu and diced onions for breakfast. Mix it in a blender with soft tofu, vegetarian broth, and seasonings, for vegan salad dressings and the best is to press most of the water out of very firm tofu, then dice it about 1/2". In a microwave-safe bowl I put a tablespoon of olive oil, the tofu, 2-3 T.of nutritional yeast, salt & pepper, garlic powder, and herbs. I toss the ingredients, and microwave it for 5 minutes, toss again, then microwave another 5 minutes. I use this as a protein topping for salads. It makes the tofu chewy and it's delicious.