Pre-Natals for the Vegetarian?

kylamaries
kylamaries Posts: 291
in Food and Nutrition
Earlier at my hairdresser, she commented how thin my hair had grown from dropping meat from my diet and adopting a new, very stressful lifestyle. She said she hands-down recommended pre-natal vitamins because it will give me a normal dose of vitamins plus a small extra dosage that someone who doesn't eat meat isn't receiving in his/her daily diet (which will not only help my hair grow back stronger, but will even out my levels).

I stopped by the drugstore, purchased a 120-caplet bottle of pre-natals and was stopped at the checkout with the question, "Are you taking these just because or are you actually pregnant?" The lady, eight months pregnant, said that her hair was all sorts of knotted and torn before she found the right pre-natals and hoped they helped me too.

But I wanted some more opinions before I tore open the safety cap: For someone who eats NO meat and has very low levels of iron and B12 and the like, will this vitamin benefit me or hurt me in the long run? Has anyone who isn't pregnant or planning to become pregnant had success with them?

Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • Trechechus
    Trechechus Posts: 2,819 Member
    I don't know if I will be much help to you, but I'm veg too and I don't take any extra vitamins. I am very careful about making sure I read labels to make sure I get the nutrients I need, and often find that I am lacking in iron and I have stretches of time where I am very lethargic. I haven't had any issues with hair thinning, though. I am going to say, as a biologist, though, your body only absorbs the nutrients that it needs and excretes the rest. If you are taking "a small extra dosage" you are just going to be peeing out the money that you spent on the extra vitamins.

    How closely to do you track your vitamin intake from your food?
  • madworld1
    madworld1 Posts: 524
    I'm not pregnant. But, I take prenatals daily. Yes, it has helped my hair, skin, and nails. I'm not vegan or vegetarian. But, I don't eat a ton of meat. I buy them at Target. :)
  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    I'm a vegetarian and I get all of my B vitamins and iron from food. Why aren't you getting enough from food?

    Iron has nothing to do with hair health, by the way. A lot of people think that pre-natals help with hair, skin, and nails because women taking pre-natals often become pregnant and then have awesome hair, skin, and nails thanks to pregnancy hormones.
  • madworld1
    madworld1 Posts: 524
    You're right about iron not being the essential vitamin for skin, hair, and nails. You're also right that pregnancy hormones aid in "glowing" skin,healthier hair, and nails. However, prenatals have other vits that help in that area. :)
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    I'd evaluate plant (and any animal product) sources of iron I was currently intaking....make a plan to consume vitamin c rich foods with the ones that had the most iron, and maybe take a b vitamin specifically before taking a prenatal.

    as far as iron absorption goes, a prenatal is like throwing a bunch of mud at a small target and hoping some sticks. It may be too much for you if you evaluate your diet.
  • kylamaries
    kylamaries Posts: 291
    Thanks for the input everyone! Since I already bought the pre-natals, should I try those first or specifically go back to trying other vitamins? I took vitamin E and B12 for a while (a couple of months) and never felt much of a difference. I felt very fatigued and weak even when I was checking my levels.
  • kylamaries
    kylamaries Posts: 291
    I'm a vegetarian and I get all of my B vitamins and iron from food. Why aren't you getting enough from food?

    Namely what? I'd love suggestions! Once I find something that works, I tend to overeat it until I'm sick of it.
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    I'm a vegetarian and I get all of my B vitamins and iron from food. Why aren't you getting enough from food?

    Namely what? I'd love suggestions! Once I find something that works, I tend to overeat it until I'm sick of it.

    nutritional yeast is a good vegan/vegetarian source.
  • lastspen
    lastspen Posts: 106 Member
    I usually take pre-natals and have not had a problem. I'm not sure if they helped with my hair but I know that most contain Biotin which is great for hair. I took them for the higher amounts of iron. Other than higher levels of iron, folic acid and biotin, I haven't noticed much of a difference between prenatal vitamins and general women's multivitamins. You should be fine and if you don't like that one you picked up just pick up a different brand next time.
  • kylamaries
    kylamaries Posts: 291
    I usually take pre-natals and have not had a problem. I'm not sure if they helped with my hair but I know that most contain Biotin which is great for hair. I took them for the higher amounts of iron. Other than higher levels of iron, folic acid and biotin, I haven't noticed much of a difference between prenatal vitamins and general women's multivitamins. You should be fine and if you don't like that one you picked up just pick up a different brand next time.
    I figured there wasn't any huge side-effects as long as I follow the directions and stop usage if something goes wrong. Thanks for your kind words!
  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    I'm a vegetarian and I get all of my B vitamins and iron from food. Why aren't you getting enough from food?

    Namely what? I'd love suggestions! Once I find something that works, I tend to overeat it until I'm sick of it.

    I eat loads of green leafy vegetables, which are rich in iron. Spinach, chard, kale plus Brussel sprouts, broccoli. Vegetarian mock-meat products are also rich in iron. I love Morningstar fake chicken products, gardein fake chicken, ... I love fake chicken and tofu. Beans and lentils are rich in iron and B6. Dark leafy greens are also rich in B6. B12 is typically in fortified grain and soy (tofu) products.

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