One Year Vegan BLOOD TEST RESULTS + What Supplements Do I Take?

[@plantplanetearth509]

When my flax seeds are expired, I throw them in the garden. They make the cutest little blue flowers!

[@1234Tsukichan]

Smallville Boyd thanks for the tip!

[@LoveYourselfHealthy]

Sequoiah Dreams most expiration dates are overly cautious!

[@blackforest1132]

@@LoveYourselfHealthy what???

[@Happymind-happyworld.]

@@blackforest1132 companies just make expiry dates to avoid law suits. That’s why some products can still be ok to eat a day or two later

[@LaiaBertran]

This is adorable. I didn't know😊

[@monkiram]

I'm a medical student and this was an informative and accurate video, but I'd like to clarify some things: • The most important thing I want to point out is that our bodies regulate calcium extremely tightly because blood calcium levels can have drastic effects on our brains, nerves and muscles. Pretty much the only way to have low blood calcium levels is by having a hormone imbalance. Having low calcium intake will not give you low blood calcium, because our bodies will break down bone in order to maintain blood calcium. That's why most people with osteoporosis have normal blood calcium levels. That said, there's really no way to know if you're consuming enough calcium, just do your best to make sure you're meeting the nutritional recommendations and also getting enough vitamin D because that's crucial for calcium absorption. • Reading iron levels is a little complicated and is determined by looking at multiple measurements so it's difficult for someone to figure out by just reading one value on a blood test. But if your hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCHC, and ferritin levels all read normal then you're good. If one or more of those values are off, you'll need a doctor to help you figure out what the problem is. • You were correct when you said that vitamin B12 levels take a while to go down. It actually takes years to become B12-deficient if you start off with a normal level. Vitamin B12 is essential for cell growth and nerve function and it's impossible to obtain it from a purely vegan diet so all vegans should take B12 supplements! • You are also correct that vitamin D3 is much more easily absorbed into your body than D2. When considering sun as your source of vitamin D, it's important to remember that the same UV rays that produce vitamin D in the skin cause mutations in DNA, so it does increase your chances of skin cancer. So for that reason, it might be safer to take a supplement. • Flaxseeds are very healthy so it's a great idea to add them to meals, but the omega-3 in them doesn't have DHA or EPA which are the forms of omega-3 that have the major benefit on our bodies (the anti-inflammatory effects that promote long-term health), so the supplements might be a good thing to continue taking as well The last thing I want to say isn't medical but I want to share a traditional Egyptian dessert :D We combine molasses with tahini to make a thick sweet paste that we dip pita bread into. It's like a healthier version of PB&J (and in my opinion, tastier). I love Dr. Michael Greger's videos too! As a med student, I still learn so much from him.

[@tarquinbristow492]

I'd just like to correct you on the b12, which is only produced by bacteria and is just as possible to get sufficient amounts through drinking the water that a wild herbivore drinks, which is why feed-lot animals are given b12 supplements. On calcium, the absorption is strongly influenced by phosphorus, which is why organic calcium is a safer bet than supplements in my mind.

[@alexc632]

That recipe sounds really cool, thank you I'm going to try it :)

[@missmahatmajade]

Plus flax has ldl, which your body can convert to dha and epa :)

[@ash5779]

thank you for the medical info :^D

[@johnnyroe8053]

@Caleb no

[@CaitlinShoemaker]

PLEASE READ - I misread my source and gave an incorrect reading for my cholesterol. Thank you for commenters who informed me of this! I took a look at my test and my cholesterol levels are fine. Just wanted to let you all know :)

[@CaitlinShoemaker]

I edited the video to remove all of the misinformation, because I don't want to give anyone inaccurate info. If you'd like to read up on your cholesterol, this is a helpful link: www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/cholesterol-tests-understand-your-results

[@Kate-ps3dm]

I do have a question on your B12 level: was the measurement for your B12 a serum measurement? If so, that unfortunately doesn't mean you're absorbing all of it. A urine metabolic test would be more accurate to see how much your body's absorbing. I'm a vegan and had a huge serum B12 measurement but found out that I was excreting most of it.

[@theshunnedBandersnatch]

Is that a bad thing? My understanding is that B12 is water soluble, so once the body has absorbed all it needs, the rest goes down the drain.

[@Kate-ps3dm]

You're absolutely right! Ideally, your body takes what it needs and dumps the rest. The thing is, if you have a high serum B12 and also a high metabolic B12 in your urine, that would mean you're excreting most of the B12 you're in-taking. I personally had that problem and found out my body wasn't absorbing the specific B12 supplement I was taking, which caused me to switch to the injectible option.

[@theshunnedBandersnatch]

Oh, now I get it. That makes sense!

[@GG-tg5ub]

I had vitamin D deficiency when I was a meat eater. My doctor told me that this is a VERY common deficiency, especially, for people living in northern climates. I supplement now and most people living in northern latitudes probably should, as well. This is not a vegan thing. It's a sun exposure thing.

[@jillybean9569]

finally someone that understands the whole vitamin consumption process 👏🏻👏🏻

[@williamsantiago9284]

yes and make sure to take with k2

[@williamsantiago9284]

especially if you have darker skin your body has a harder time absorbing vitamin D! it’s a massive deal because vitamin is a life changer!

[@Michael-ol2gv]

​@@jillybean9569 Bullshit! I mean, I know its not exclusive to vegan, however the only meat eaters that have Vitamin D deficiency are thos who do not consume proper meat product. If you eat eggs, drink enough milk and eat red meat and liver regularly it is impossible for you to be Vitamin D deficient. You do not need supplement if you consume meat products properly however to vegans it simply isnt possible. On top of that the supplements are not quite the actual molecule as well so its not going to work for alot of people. Thats why some Vegans convert while others dont. The supplements you buy doesnt have a consistence effect on your body.

[@nileshsharma9220]

Are you still vegan?

[@carolineASMR]

Ground Flaxseed won’t supply you with EPA/DHA because the body has a really hard time converting ALA into EPA/DHA, so an algae supplement is still recommended! 🌱

[@vanessa6236]

Can you explain this in simpler terms please? I don't understand...

[@therandomdude7347]

@@vanessa6236 same

[@glodusmuspell9069]

@@vanessa6236 you don't need algae, ala omega 3 is enough from flax seeds, walnuts, chia seeds

[@hc4659]

@@vanessa6236 Omega-3 is a family of fatty acids. EPA and DHA are two within that family and they are the ones our body needs. ALA is another one, but it doesn't replace EPA/DHA. Our body can convert ALA into EPA/DHA, but it's not efficient, so let's say you eat 1g of ALA, it will NOT mean you get 1g of EPA/DHA. So someone who eats ALA food/supplement MAY still lack EPA/DHA (notice the word MAY: only a blood test can tell you that). Algae on the other hand does have EPA/DHA, so it's better than flaxseed etc., but again, only a blood test and consultation with a qualified doctor can tell how much you need.

[@smallgains3485]

That’s not 100% correct… Omega-3 fatty acids can be split into two categories: Essential omega-3 fatty acids: Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is the only essential omega-3 fatty acid, meaning you can only get it from your diet. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids: This category includes eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). They are not considered essential because your body can make them from ALA.

[@aysimaberil]

You are my favorite KZbinr. I would love you to make a huge money off of KZbin but I love that KZbin isn't your job because you can truly understand the life of a busy grad/undergrad student who tries to be healthy and vegan. I am studying to be a physicist and I have a busy schedule so your videos hit the spot. I also appreciate that you tell people to do their own research and as a fellow scientist I think that is very important. Man, I would love to be friends with you (sorry,if it sounds creepy or weird.)

[@theshunnedBandersnatch]

I totally agree! I'm not in the sciences, but I have plans for law school, & it's awesome to see that there's a vegan YTer who gets it from a student's perspective.

[@mybubbles5552]

I would love an update in a few months :) Definitely take your supplements! My blood test did show that I have low iron and b12. I've been vegan 8 years and haven't been supplementing regularly. My mom and I have always had problems with low iron our entire lives though. I'm due to have another blood test in 6 months.

[@joselynmejia7385]

Catherine Sebring Take moringa pills, worked for me :)

[@iamalexandra.]

Catherine Sebring I've read that 2 teaspoons of molasses a day while we're on our periods is enough to help with our iron levels. Still, if that doesn't work, 2 teaspoons a day everyday should do the job.

[@biblebill6206]

Just cook in an iron skillet to get iron , if you cook any food .

[@biblebill6206]

All you have to do is cook in an "iron" skillet to get adequate iron .

[@bellrose2659]

bible bill how often do you have to get a new skillet for that?

[@robertbenefield2493]

Not a vegan, but even so, being a new vegetarian (about 4 months now), I find your videos really helpful. Keep up the great work.

[@genesisingold9604]

I love how she is very informed and doesn't Bs anything. Iv'e done my homework because i hate being ignorant and Caitlin tells the truth! :) Caitlin, I Love how your so positive and your videos are great!

[@catieandthebopeeps]

My vitamin D was a "6" many years ago. Turns out, I had thyroid issues that I hadn't previously known about, and the thyroid issues were somehow blocking Vitamin D absorption. 😳 Great video, I'm highly considering a plant-based diet.

[@RababHussainA]

I don't think the vitamin D level has so much to do with a diet, because I'm eat a lot of non-vegetarian and dairy foods on a daily basis, but I was still severely deficient in vitamin D (it was like 5.6 or something, that low!!). I also eat red meat regularly and despite that, I had really low blood haemoglobin levels. This stuff happens, and many a time regardless of what you eat. I take supplements on and off for my deficiencies, and there's nothing wrong with it. Vegan people can have deficiencies, vegetarian people can have deficiencies, non-vegetarian people can have deficiencies. What matters is your health, and you gotta do what you gotta do to stay healthy.

[@itsjess97]

Rabab Hussain I couldn't agree more! I'm vegetarian and I take iron supplements because I'm a little deficient, but recently I looked at my past blood tests and found out I had this deficiency even before I stopped eating meat. Plus a friend of mine is iron deficient too and she's a meat eater, so I think the diet does a little part in causing deficiencies.

[@spiral-m]

Rabab Hussein, that is because lack of exercise and sunlight in higher lattitudes are the main limiting facors

[@ItsCorin]

Might be worth removing the dairy because it inhibits iron absorption, could be the reason you're still deficient.

[@agazaman78]

U lack of salt thats why u can't absorb nutrients as I low level of hydrochloric acid

[@trish5111]

You shouldn't buy ground flax but buy whole flax or chia seeds and grind them up bit by bit. Whole seeds can be kept in the cupboard but once ground it should be kept in the fridge. Dr Greger has great app called Dr Greger's daily dozen too which is a whole food plant based guide to eating.

[@dianamgleaton]

Just to let everyone know, a lot of women are deficient in Vitamin D. We talked about it in Anatomy and it's very common in women :)

[@mbrstntn]

Delivery on point! Solid advice without giving out too much and reminding people to do their own research and know themselves.

[@nileshsharma9220]

Are you vegan now?

[@kalinanelson5477]

I get the b12 shot every week because of a severe deficiency. I'm a vegetarian and I also have iron deficiency. But, when I ate meat my health was worse.

[@pandemoniumsan8047]

Kalina Nelson animal protein makes your body instantly acidic (whether it is in meat, dairy or eggs) which prevents absorbtion of many nutrients, calcium and iron included. So consider cutting out animal products from your diet completely and replacing them with more nutrient dense foods like greens and beans (super great sources of iron). Take a blood test after a few months and see, that will more than likely solve the problem.

[@kalinanelson5477]

pandemonium san I'm 95% vegan, now. I also take regular pill supplements, now. Thanks.

[@cocodakilla]

b12 comes from the right meats. I don't eat pig cow and will cut chicken out. Seafood and lamb is the only beneficial meat vitamin wise. the rest are pumped up with water and drugs

[@LeoLioness9601]

Coco Pops b12 is a bacteria from the ground. The reason why it's in some meats is because the animals eat plants from the ground. The reason why the majority of people are low in b12 is because the soils are depleted from a lot of nutrients due to over farming. (We create too many farmed animals which require a Lot of plant farming to feed them all)

[@TriggerHappy923]

When I ate meat I needed all kinds of supplements. Just a little bit of meat filled me up too fast, so I ended up not eating enough food.

[@witchescauldron]

Really interesting and such great information - thanks for sharing! I'm approaching 6 months vegan and I'm going for a blood test soon. I take D3 (serious lack of sun/daylight here!) B12, zinc, flaxseed oil and Testa vegan Omega 3. Kind of supplement-obsessed! 😊

[@kayanderson476]

This has definitely helped open my eyes! I've been very anti-supplement for a long time because I know with tablets your body doesn't always absorb the nutrients, but I have been curious about the liquid sprays and I'm definitely going to be looking into B12 supplements! Thank you for this!

[@nileshsharma9220]

Are you vegan still?

[@jada2061]

cool to hear you're opinion on this, just got my bloodtest results back about a week ago, and everything was perfect she said even better then most ppl:-)

[@CaitlinShoemaker]

that's awesome!!!

[@kickitlikekirra]

Absolutely yes, you want to eat ground flaxseed as opposed to whole, HOWEVER it is best to grind them yourself, as the natural oils start to go rancid as soon as the seed is broken up and exposed to oxygen. Easy solution: grind them yourself by hand or in a coffee grinder, or throw them (whole or ground) into your blender when making a smoothie.

[@supasage8131]

Not to be a smartass but isn't that why we chew them? Our teeth our natural grinders and digestion starts in our mouth right?

[@sherylgoodman2134]

Dan flaxseeds are so small that it’s difficult to chew them properly. It’s best to grind them yourself.

[@kickitlikekirra]

@@supasage8131 Yes, you are right - teeth are for chewing! However, as the other reply said, flaxseeds can be difficult to grind finely enough without pestle or grinder, AND the flax will start to stick to your gums and cheeks quickly (try and you will quickly know what I mean!😆). Doable, just not pleasant. But whatever floats your boat and gets you omega-3s! (Chia and hemp are other great options: Hemp is easy peasy; chia behaves similarly to flax.)

[@lmccahill45]

I have been vegan for going on 3 years now and every day I take a Vegan Multivitamin by Deva. Not all Multivitamins are equal most storebought vitamins have gelatin (fish) in them and artificial colors. you can get this multivitamin on Amazon and from your local health food store for 10 bucks and under and it has 90 pills (3 months) in each bottle. Welcome to being vegan!

[@nileshsharma9220]

Are you still a Vegan?

[@dariansinclair1]

This was so informative and concise! Thanks for making this 😊 I've been vegan for almost 2 years and got a blood test done and I had the same issue with vitamin d, but all of my other levels were completely normal! I supplement now with a vitamin d everyday and feel so much better energy wise.

[@seiwhat1]

Great video. I'm newly vegan & I found this to be very informative. Thank you

[@CaitlinShoemaker]

Happy to help!

[@Kittygirl2326]

seiwhat1 same

[@BlazerRose]

Sweetie, you should ground flaxseeds before you consume them - buy them whole instead. The good oils in them are very fragile and volatile and ground flaxseeds gets harsh almost immediately

[@jessabeth123]

Hooray for a new video! But thank you! This was very informative :)

[@samanthaboyle8525]

yes! do your research! Thank you so much for spreading that message!

[@moishaanderson1850]

I love how realistic you are and how you try to make it easy for us to know what to do. Most youtubers make it seem so difficult and it gets frustrating cause it seems so expensive but you make it seem doable and possible!

[@alienesse]

this was very informative, thank you!

[@bradleyhunt9840]

I was taking Vitamin B12 and Calcium supps for ages, but then came across Exceed by Nutral which has all of the vits and minerals in, as well as 3 protein sources. Can't recommend it enough

[@witchf4ce310]

Caleb vegans don’t need anything more than meat eaters do

[@92Gibbons]

This was really informative, thank you!Also, you look absolutely radiant! I wish I lived in a warmer climate like you. Currently cuddling my hot water bottle in England!

[@dinikrasniqi4541]

The reason why your vitamin D is low despite living in a sunny place and spending a lot of time outside in the sun is because the liver and kidneys convert vitamin D, so if you have a low vitamin D content you have problems with 1 or both organs. Did you know that a reduced liver function can only be seen in the blood if it has already lost 80% of its effect! This is because the blood is only intended for the transport of nutrients and not for the detection of diseases. When diseases are seen in the blood, there is already a lot of damage on a cellular level! For more on this see the channel of Dr. Robert Morse

[@jayneduncan6110]

when meat eaters ask where I get nutrition from I literally laugh and ask them where they get theirs from. chicken nuggets?

[@jenluvzya]

Jayne Duncan 😂

[@kelleykalomiris1256]

It's sad that you now think of people in categories now, and that would be your first response when someone is curious about nutrition on a vegan diet; you literally laugh in their face. Coming from someone who is making their way back into veganism, I don't know how you even have friends with an attitude like that. Nice vegans were the ones to help me back into the journey.

[@jassikaur4703]

Hahaha what a come back certainly will use that next time !

[@dontreadmyprofilepicture3768]

Jayne Duncan 😂😂😂 im so going to say that now

[@IloveJC30]

Exactly! I’m like have u never been to a grocery store? There’s probably more options for vegans than meat eaters

[@makeupbyhunter05]

Vegan life 🐮🐷🐰🐭🐔💖

[@flute9354]

simplyhunter What chu hunting

[@flute9354]

simplyhunter What chu hunting

[@emeliewihlborg9832]

Thank you for sharing this! It really helped me :D Definitely going to look into getting a blood test! Take care x

[@talmatan9785]

Good video, except you should buy whole flax seeds, and ground them yourself in a coffee/spice grounder, that way it wont be oxidized.

[@aleenr4425]

Ya, and your supposed to consume it within a week or two because it goes rancid quickly. Also, flax is a source of ALA form of omega 3 and our bodies don't do a very good job at converting it to DHA, which is the form of omega 3 that vegans are deficient in, so you need a vegan DHA from seaweed..

[@CaitlinShoemaker]

Thanks for the tip! I'll look into that :)

[@ninaandianfan21]

Totally off topic: can you give a close look up from your wall behind you? With the vegan vibes thingy and the other ones?

[@thedrvn]

I've been vegan for 3.5 years and just got my results back, I was 19% below the accepted level for b12, 1% under for iron (lol!) And 11% under in vitamin D

[@nileshsharma9220]

Was it despite being on supplements?

[@thedrvn]

@@nileshsharma9220 no I didn't want to take supplements, I wanted to get it through a healthy diet. Stopped following a vegan diet just over 2 years ago and have never felt better. I have a very physical job 3 days a week, a physically demanding business 3 days a week and work out and run. I just could not find a vegan solution that gave me the energy with ought side affects, ie too much fiber or not enough calories. My partner works a sit down job and has been vegan for 8+years and is fine though. I was vegan for over 4 years and I was physically worse for it. Just my exp

[@nileshsharma9220]

@@thedrvn I understand.

[@vargapaula6992]

I just got my bloodtests done and I am a bit low on some things, amongst them B12, so I am very happy I found this video, now I know to buy a spray version of B12 rarher than pills! 😊

[@Inabritt]

Do a update in 3 months pls! Would be really interesting! :)

[@veganteen8609]

I've been vegan for about 6 years (I'm 15) and my parents always get my blood work done every couple of years. Everything has always been fine. I take B12 and pop a zinc now and then when I have a cold. I also take algae-derived DHA/EPA, but that's not really a vegan issue, since most nonvegans don't get enough DHA/EPA either. My mom gives me Vitamin D in the winter too, but that's not a vegan thing either.

[@mariyaa8772]

Vegan Teen hi, I know this is old but where do you get your plant based DHA/EPA ? Thanks :)

[@mrsbarnett]

Flax seeds contain ALA but not DHA and EPA which is why you need to take the algae oil supplement! Super important. Xx

[@coco_kapfer]

Love the explanations! Congrats, you healthy lady.

[@LadyP1]

Hematocrit is The ratio of the volume of red blood cells to the total volume of blood . Nice video.

[@CaitlinShoemaker]

Thank you for pointing this out! I just corrected my mistake - I must have misread my online source...I did think it was strange that it would indicate that. I re-checked my results and my cholesterol is fine :) x

[@lindseyspencer1378]

My body does NOT do well with blood tests, I got my blood tested three weeks ago and the bruise still hasn't gone away! It was super helpful though I'm glad I did it haha

[@marcelomiceli5291]

congratulations, you are an inspiration to many people , keep the good work. I am 62 and doing this for 45 years, and was the best decision I made in my life. I recently had a blood test done and my b12 was 2000, to high, so I had to stop taking it for a while. So is always good to have a blood work once a year to see how is everything. I never took a pill for anything, anyways and the only supplement I was taking was b12

[@holistica-hole9501]

Im one month vegan.. Blood pressure, BMI are perfect.. Keep up the good work!

[@nileshsharma9220]

Are you vegan still?

[@hannahminns4353]

omg i'm so glad i found this channel! girl you're awesome and hella inspiring and clever. thx so much

[@c0c0666XD]

Just to let you know calcium level in the blood will not change depending on your diet. The regulation will be made with bones but its absorption in the gut do depend on the vitamin D level. but yeah, I should restart my vitamin D tablets as summer is over... and I fear the sun anyway.

[@valysummer]

In fact it's better to buy the flax seeds whole and ground a little bit at a time because other wise it will looses its properties.

[@trish5111]

Valy yes and keep the ground flax seeds in the fridge. Whole flax is OK in the cupboard.

[@ridgeword]

I love the vibe of this channel. I've been watching some of your videos. Your simplicity made me subscribe to your channel.

[@emilywoody7876]

I'm 13 and I just convinced my family to go vegetarian and I'm so excitedddddd 😝

[@emilywoody7876]

Aurel no lol

[@ash5779]

yayayyaya

[@maju404]

are they still????

[@anealin]

I would like to underline that RDs are sometimes higher than really necessary. The simple fact is that RDs differ from country to country (that said as if political borders defined nutritional needs of people). So, I would also suggest researching this topic and what vegan doctors say (For example dr. greger states that 600 mg of calcium vs. 1000 mg is enough and Dr. McDougal says in regard of the blood test results that 20 mg of D is normal). I personally take my b12 5000 every 7-10 days, and I ordered DHA and D3 just to try (I'll wait till October to supplement with D3 though :)). I am curious about my blood test on vitamins, but first I want to adjust my diet to the "best for my health" possible, and to stay on it for about 3 months to see how it works. Also its a pitty that blood tests for vitamins and minerals are a little bit expensive to do in my country.

[@ruelmp504]

Verrryyy helpful vid... thanks!

[@xxWhitey09xx]

Hey girl! If your Vitamin D is low you definitely need to be takin about 5000 a day instead of 1000. That is the recommendation from my dr because I have had low D the last few years. Anyway, good luck! 💗

[@JS-ir7pt]

I also have a deficiency with vitamin D and I essentially live in the sun. lol Maybe our skin happens to have a harder time absorbing the sunlight. So no worries :)

[@Look.Upward]

Hi there, You may want to eat liver targeting foods e.g organic potatoes, as it is the one that makes Vitamin D, i believe. You can consume plant based foods e.g organic chestnut mushrooms and sun-dried mushrooms, that will also transfer Vitamin D into your system. Moreover, make sure to drink plenty of pure, clean water (avoiding artificial fluoridated water due to the negative impact it can have on the brain) to cleanse the tissues from toxins, germs, viruses, chemicals and other pollutants. Additionally, i would also recommend to avoid unnatural, antiperspirant deodorants, especially those that contain Aluminium, and instead opt for natural remedies e.g organic lemons for body odor, although may not be needed if one changes a diet to a well-planned, organic, unrefined and untempered with vegan diet (preferably raw if possible, so as not to denature or destroy life-forces and enzymatic activities combined with the use of tree products e.g organic tea tree soap and tea tree moisturizer - from personal experience) Best wishes 💙💙💙

[@TheTurk92]

your vit (hormone D) insufficiency can be from a lack of K vitamins especially K2 even if you are getting sufficient sun/ supplement. Try Natto supplements and dark leafy greens, ✌🏻️🌱 ps the optimal time for sun exposure is 12-3 depending on your position on the globe, UVA and UVB are most balanced and beneficial at the peak of day. A maximum amount of skin surface exposed (like the back) can aid in the chemical response involved in the production of Vit D, specifically laying for 30-40 min as a daily practice is best. ps #2 The best form of omega 3s from a plant based source is Clary Sage Seed oil, I would avoid a daily dose of flax especially pre-ground as it is extremely prone to oxidative damage. Get a coffee grinder and grind very near the time of consumption if you must. great channel thank you

[@squatforpancakes3048]

Loved the tips! thank you so much for this

[@gabcaaa]

Thank you for this video Caitlin, I didn't know many of these things so thanks for making me better informed! :)

[@RosanaPetkova]

I suggest that you take your vit. D3 along with vit. K2 since it helps with absorption. Also, because you bought pills, it's good to take it with something that contains fat in it, whether that's gonna be a teaspoon of coconut oil, some ground flaxseed, avocado, etc.

[@charliehobson33]

why? thanks

[@cookiemonsterules]

charlie hobson because d3 is a fat soluable hormone

[@blue_cameron]

charlie hobson one of the functions of Vitamin D is to boost the absorption of calcium however if you don't get enough K2 the calcium can be put in the wrong places (calcification) since K2 is basically a guide for where calcium is to go. We can make our own K2 if we get enough K1 and we have a healthy microbiome however the amount you make varies from individual to individual so you also either want to take a supplement or eat some fermented food which already has K2 made by the bacteria (natto/sauerkraut). The reason why she said to take coconut oil and an avocado is because those are high in fat and D3/K2 are fat soluble meaning you need fat to absorb them. Tahini and macadamia nuts are also good sources of fat.

[@blue_cameron]

charlie hobson I recommend Dr Eric Berg and Dr Rhonda Patrick on KZbin to learn more about health. Those 2 are the ones I learned the most from that helped me improve my health.

[@eydiegarcelon8889]

Great video Caitlin. Very informative!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@allirogers788]

Thanks for sharing your results for us ! And being so candid about what could be improved on. Do you ever track your daily nutritional intake ? I was curious as to if you actually tracked the amount of protein, iron, cholesterol, and sugar that you consume .

[@olgasaraiva9847]

I had low iron in my last blood tests and one of doctor had me on supplements, but then i spoke to another doctor who actually knew I was vegan and we came to the conclusion that it was related to my period and not like low enough for me to be wasting money on supplements, so she just recommended I have some more leafy greens and said we can check on it again in a few months. So I would say you have to have the right kind of doctor cause my first one is the kind who thinks veganism is stupid and wants you on as much medication as possible to get his share from pharmaceutical companies...

[@elenagarciabroock2356]

Tanks for this video. Very helpful and clear. I will do my research anyway, but this is a good starting point :)

[@tiffanyx8577]

Which podcasts do you enjoy? Loving all of your videos!

[@theshunnedBandersnatch]

Yesss another person on the blackstrap molasses train! I add it to my oats every morning & I love it!

[@theshunnedBandersnatch]

I also need to look into getting a vitamin D supplement. My skin is pretty dark & I'm still overweight, both of which make it more difficult for my body to get a sufficient amount solely from the sun.

[@vermontindependent-newsroo3495]

Vegans do perform so much better in physical activity! I did 20.69 miles hiking, 44,000+ steps on Monday. I recovered much quicker than when I wasn't Vegan, and I've been Vegan for 3 1/2 years now.

[@brianbroussard5036]

Do you have a quick breakdown of what group of plants have what vitamins/minerals. I find it difficult to quench craving for protien. I grow a lot of my own food but the variety is lacking. It'll save me some time, plus, I don't want to get bad or incomplete info. I am hoping to change some of my blood levels by becoming vegan. A yeast free vegan food plan to be exact.

[@hayleyrebecca7580]

I'm vegan and I had to get my hormones and vitamins checked last year and I always feel very queasy and light headed when I get blood tests. I actually passed out lol. Do you have any advice on how to feel better and relax during a blood test. I love u sm

[@abbynoso3140]

I just make a playlist on KZbin of funny KZbin videos or ones I think will be funny.. Then I put in earphones and lay on my left side (cuz I get it taken from my right arm) or u can do a playlist of calming music! But it's weird cause last time I did it, it took 10 seconds NO JOKE. I think when I was a kid it too much longer cause they did 2 little tubes instead of 1.

[@witchescauldron]

I'm the same! I always ask to lie down and the doctor uses a needle that's meant for babies - you can definitely request this - I really don't feel anything bad. Also those acupressure wrist bands for travel sickness will help with faintness/nausea. As you can tell, I'm a Big Baby 😊

[@awesomeness24x7]

I really want to get a blood test but I'm so incredibly scared of needles. The last time I passed out just like you. Is it any other way it can be done?

[@azugirl111]

Don't look at the needle

[@daniellegallo3257]

You may be iron deficient. Try Plantation Blackstrap Molasses is known to help curve anemia because it's very high in iron. One tablespoon a day in a cup of hot water or almond milk is all you need.

[@mbrstntn]

Yay flax seeds! I was hoping you were going to say that :)

[@dentalmitra7864]

Great bit of research ! Good narration to accompany. Thanks .

[@cmartell82]

Nice video, FYI please note that flaxseed contains ala's not Dha or epa so is not absorbed by the body as much

[@shannonhayes4451]

great info. so glad you did this video. please do another when you redo your bloodwork!

[@ashleelarramore7165]

Super informative! Thanks for the video girl!

[@ocean2824]

Flaxseed has ALA not DHA or EPA which we need for our brain health as vegans. While Flaxseed is good for you, we need to still convert the ALA to EPA and DHA. So those capsules are actually better for you! Anyways, thought I would pass on some knowledge I acquired from Dr. Gregor.

[@ToonTownFanatics]

Yeah only a small amount of ALA is converted to DHA and EPA so you need to make sure you get enough, or just take the capsules as you said :).

[@camilleschneider4442]

2tbps of flaxseed and 1tbsp of chia seeds daily provide enough ALA for our bodies to convert to DHA. :)

[@spinLOL533]

Ocean are you even aware with the bio availability? You barely absorb any... Eat oily wild fish you soy boy

[@fragitude]

@@spinLOL533 fish get DHA and EPA from algae and so can we. Algae oils only downside is that it is about three times more expensive than fish oil. But it's still affordable at about 30 cents per day.

[@spinLOL533]

Tim Flagler I eat wild king salmon and omega xl fish oil cost a lot but miles better than algae...

[@isabelle7281]

you can also get tons of iron through chickpeas!! they are so versatile and tasty: roast them, make hummus, make falafels, eat them plain, add to vegan dips and cheez sauces!

[@dazeerae]

Yay, a fellow Greger fan. I ♥️ that you mentioned flaxseed over supplementation. I agree that supplementation is not bad, but good to hear that there are whole foods that provide the needed vitamins. For anyone interested, you can buy the flaxseeds whole & grind them in a coffee bean grinder (maybe even a blender). Love the tip about blackstrap molasses!

[@strivetothrive1854]

great video and advice. I've been a vegan for 10 months now. Just a tip, I recommend buying whole flax seeds and grinding up the amount that you will be consuming at that point in time. Already ground flaxseeds loose their nutritional value as soon as they touch the air. just a tip! keep up the good work!

[@AshleyGibson2011]

So glad you made this video! My 6 month vegan mark is the beginning of December, my boyfriend & I will both be getting our blood tested then to see where our health stands. I supplement B-12 and Magnesium, the latter to aid in healthy digestion because even the slightest difference in my environment causes my body to not digest well. Can't wait to get my results in a few months!

[@nileshsharma9220]

Are you vegan still?

[@tiffanyx8577]

Would be super intrigued to see your levels now. I know B12 is held in our bodies for a while. This is super informative!

[@dianelaaispuro3871]

Early Happy Birthday to you! 🥳🎉🍰🎂

[@leni9157]

hey you really should buy whole flax seeds and shred them yourself, shredded flax seed dry out after a short amount of time and all the omega 3 is lost!!! just discovered your channel and absolitly love your videos

[@adrianaalvarez8122]

I love this video! It was so informative, thank you!

[@UnstoppablePassion1]

I'm wondering what my Vitamin D will be when I can get my blood tested because I've always been deficient (10.2 was my reading last year).

[@dropj3]

Forever Lanae that sounds really low.. do you experience any problems because of it? I've read that of you live in the northern hemisphere and aren't white, you should take vitamin D supplements. the higher the amount of melanin in the skin, the more you'll need because while melanin protects against sun damage, it also blocks the ability to form vitamin D. I've read that that's the main reason for melanin decline in Europe over the eons, so people would get more vitamin D despite the lack of sunlight in the northern hemisphere. (great argument that settles race discussion haha) hope you're doing well :).

[@UnstoppablePassion1]

Sammy Singh 😂😂😂

[@UnstoppablePassion1]

N. E I've always been on vitamin d supplements. 2000iu daily. I'm not sure of any issues associated with vitamin do deficiency because I've never done any research. but aside from hereditary migraines I've always felt great! lol

[@xxWhitey09xx]

Forever Lanae Hey girl! Hard to tell from your picture since it's so small, but are you black? From my understanding, it's quite normal for darker complexions to have lower vitamin D. Also, I definitely think that could cause your migraines. That doesn't sound fun. 😢 Anyway, I also have low vitamin d and my dr recommended that I take at least 5000iu a day. So maybe you should up yours a little. I've also heard that magnesium helps the Vitamin d to absorb better. So maybe you could look into that as well. Anyway, good luck! ❤

[@UnstoppablePassion1]

Sammy Singh Hi! yes I am black and I know it's definitely common to have lower than average levels, but I'm not sure about deficiency. We found out my migraines are hormonal. with the combination of taking a natural form of progesterone & a new medication (which I hope to eventually get off of) my migraines are back to only when I'm on my period. since switching to a plant based diet and my vit d levels are awesome now lol. my dr. didn't want me going over 2000 iu for 3 months. I definitely try to make sure that I'm watching my vit.d levels for sure though.

[@CelineAdobea]

I really appreciate your honesty! thank you for sharing love

[@traviscole5465]

The best way is to buy whole flax seed then grind it in a coffee grinder daily. Flax nutrition degrades quickly with exposure to air so you're not getting much from the pre-ground.

[@IvonnahErskine]

I just became a vegan a month ago & when I ate meat I was severely deficient in vitamin D, lol. And I live in LA. So, yours was great! I will get a blood test soon so that I can have an accurate read.

[@fadelmuthana]

So happy that you shared this. I’ve been vegan for years but they always talk about us with misunderstandings on nutrition😉

[@MrsBee-uo2lc]

As far as vitamin D goes, I've a meat eater for a long time and I just got my blood work done and my vitamin D was very very low on a meat diet. Most people don't know this but just about everybody is deficient in vitamin D. Almost everybody no matter what. You're on should be taking a vitamin D supplement. But I'm going vegan this week and will continue to take my vitamin D supplement.

[@tammieb543]

Glad to hear you talk about blood tests! I intend to as I share my awarenesses & observe it to be an extremely beneficial awareness & something that can stop so much debate in its tracks by debunking claims that it’s not possible to ____ on all plants 😂

[@camilles2071]

Wow what are the odds i came across this channel today and its your birthday.. happy birthday!😊

[@user-iw2md2gl4q]

Really great information! Definitely interested in getting a blood test now. x

[@ginaparadis3302]

i love your channel! my birthday is July 17th! i knew there was a reason i liked them so much lol

[@KitKat-7417]

My doctor ordered a blood test and i was great in everything, she was very pleased. I had only been taking B12 but now i take a multivitamin with B12 included in it.

[@LexiePersonForever]

b-12 also comes in nutritional yeast! if you're consuming something whole like nutritional yeast mixed into something every day (i add it to soups and salads and stuff) you might be fine, but you'd have to make sure you're eating it EVERY DAY. i know i'm not super good at that, so i still take a supplement weekly

[@marlenerosebocanegra2093]

Thank you! I appreciate how thorough and detailed you are. I'm a new vegan (month) I will be doing a blood test soon, but currently I take calcium, and a multivitamin. I will be getting a B-12 soon.

[@CaitlinShoemaker]

that's awesome Marlene! Congrats on your transition and I wish you the best :)

[@Kattmandu19]

Very informative. Thanks for posting. I love Dr. Gregor too btw! 😁

[@kenia1774]

I really liked this video! And also, your eyes are so pretty and bright!

[@CaitlinShoemaker]

aw thank you so much Kenia! :)

[@alirocksdauniverse]

really great informative video. thank you!

[@ClaudiaJeann]

This has reminded to get my bloods done soon, such an interesting video Caitlin! My bloods have never been better as a vegan though! I was really anaemic and was supplementing for years before I went vegan & within a few months of being vegan I was in a normal range :)

[@CaitlinShoemaker]

that's awesome!

[@teesha123]

very smart educated video- one thing i will say is that the pre-ground flax loses omega 3 potency and it goes rancid fast- it should be whole seed, refrigerated. Pre-grind close to eating (i grind a batch that lasts a week and so on). Also flax doesn't have both EPA and DHA- it is recommended to go the pill route on this one for OPTIMAL brain and heart health.

[@chevyiceraw]

Your video is great and it has been fun watching your recipes. However, I would like to impart a bit of knowledge to you. Flaxseed last longer as a whole seed and can be bought that way. If you have a food processor or a Vita-Mix it can be easily ground. For those who want the ease of having it done for them and will consume the flaxseed meal in a short period of time then they can buy it ground. For those who wish to buy in bulk and store the whole flaxseed in the freezer then ground 2 cups (a month's serving) when ready to consume this is an option as well.

[@vicdor1031]

Weakness, constant fatigue on a vegan diet is a real challenge for me that I should address or else I'll fail on my diet. I am going to consult with a dietician on this issue.

[@thebodfather-94]

Really informative and myth-busting video. Hope this reaches as much of an audience as possible