First a little recap:
I started a vegan diet 11 months ago. However, the last few months I have
reintroduced fish in my diet 3x a week and started iron and vitamin D
supplements as my levels were very low. The
symptoms have been hair thinning/shedding which had (and still has) me concerned.
I did not intend for this blog to be a health blog. I was anticipating my posting of delicious vegan recipes and adventures. However until I turn this hair issue around, it is consuming my attention.
Okay....with that said...the Good News! My iron stores are increasing....just popping back into normal range with ferritin levels going from a mere 7 to now 29. This is good news as it confirms my plant based supplements are working. However, to start hair regrowth most internet references state that I need to get my stores up to 70 first. I've got a ways to go.
My Vitamin D levels have tripled and now in normal range. I am no longer taking 50,000IU a week, but 2000IU a day. Hopefully this change will maintain a healthy level.
The best news of all ==> My Total Cholesterol (TC) is now 169 with a healthy TC/HDL ratio = 3.3
Total Cholesterol =
169 with no drugs, diet only!! I did not intend for this blog to be a health blog. I was anticipating my posting of delicious vegan recipes and adventures. However until I turn this hair issue around, it is consuming my attention.
Okay....with that said...the Good News! My iron stores are increasing....just popping back into normal range with ferritin levels going from a mere 7 to now 29. This is good news as it confirms my plant based supplements are working. However, to start hair regrowth most internet references state that I need to get my stores up to 70 first. I've got a ways to go.
My Vitamin D levels have tripled and now in normal range. I am no longer taking 50,000IU a week, but 2000IU a day. Hopefully this change will maintain a healthy level.
The best news of all ==> My Total Cholesterol (TC) is now 169 with a healthy TC/HDL ratio = 3.3
This is down from 225 just eleven months ago. It has dropped 56 points! I have never been this low and I have been
monitoring this since my twenties due to family history. Did I defy my genetic makeup? My doctor says, "Whatever you are doing, keep doing it." She was impressed with the numbers.
So there you have it. Finding the right balance is key and staying on top of your blood statistics is very important. I only wish I tested my iron levels and vitamin D levels prior to going vegan, as I have no evidence that it was the vegan diet alone that reduced my levels, other than the hair thinning symptom. I personally think it was a combination of my heavy pre-menopausal cycles along with stopping all iron rich meat products without efficiently replacing them with lentils, beans, soy and the like.
I think I have finally found my balance and I am on the right track. I even think I am seeing some new gray hair growing in. Gray Hair!! Yes, I’ll take whatever hair I can get. I hope to soon put this behind me and I can start posting some wonderful recipes!
So there you have it. Finding the right balance is key and staying on top of your blood statistics is very important. I only wish I tested my iron levels and vitamin D levels prior to going vegan, as I have no evidence that it was the vegan diet alone that reduced my levels, other than the hair thinning symptom. I personally think it was a combination of my heavy pre-menopausal cycles along with stopping all iron rich meat products without efficiently replacing them with lentils, beans, soy and the like.
I think I have finally found my balance and I am on the right track. I even think I am seeing some new gray hair growing in. Gray Hair!! Yes, I’ll take whatever hair I can get. I hope to soon put this behind me and I can start posting some wonderful recipes!
