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Does losing weight affect your period?
I have become a vegetarian. I’ve lost about five pounds in the last month, but my period was two weeks late. Could it be because of my diet?
Going vegetarian can be noble if you’re doing it for ethical reasons (save the animals!), and not to be cool or lose weight. When teen girls go veggie, it sometimes signals an eating disorder—we hope that’s not your case!
Your late period, though, is a problem. It means you’ve drastically reduced your calorie intake, explains Molly Kimball, sport nutritionist at Ochsner’s Elmwood Fitness Center in New Orleans. Without the proper nutrients, your monthly cycle could stop altogether. This condition, called amenorrhea, is dangerous—putting you at risk for weak bones and stress fractures. You need to make conscientious food choices.
Vegetarians need to get enough protein, iron and vitamin B12, nutrients usually found in meat. So eat protein-rich foods such as eggs, beans, tofu, nuts, veggie burgers soy and milk. For iron, chow on lots of leafy green vegetables, dried fruits, and iron-fortified breads and cereals. Eggs and dairy products pack B12.
Smart vegetarians eat healthfully. Check out foodfit.com/healthy/healthyFoodPyramid.asp#fats, and talk to your doctor about vitamin supplements and a healthful eating regimen.
Going vegetarian can be noble if you’re doing it for ethical reasons (save the animals!), and not to be cool or lose weight. When teen girls go veggie, it sometimes signals an eating disorder—we hope that’s not your case!
Your late period, though, is a problem. It means you’ve drastically reduced your calorie intake, explains Molly Kimball, sport nutritionist at Ochsner’s Elmwood Fitness Center in New Orleans. Without the proper nutrients, your monthly cycle could stop altogether. This condition, called amenorrhea, is dangerous—putting you at risk for weak bones and stress fractures. You need to make conscientious food choices.
Vegetarians need to get enough protein, iron and vitamin B12, nutrients usually found in meat. So eat protein-rich foods such as eggs, beans, tofu, nuts, veggie burgers soy and milk. For iron, chow on lots of leafy green vegetables, dried fruits, and iron-fortified breads and cereals. Eggs and dairy products pack B12.
Smart vegetarians eat healthfully. Check out foodfit.com/healthy/healthyFoodPyramid.asp#fats, and talk to your doctor about vitamin supplements and a healthful eating regimen.
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