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Veggie for 31 yrs - now GP says eat fish at the least


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Old 08-04-2016, 13:39
shmisk
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so without going into huge detail I have had health issue after health issue for the past 18 months

this morning my GP said I should stop being vegetarian. and if I could at least eat fish I would probably cure a few long standing complaints.

how do I start though? I have huge guilt feelings even thinking about it?
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Old 08-04-2016, 15:28
DiamondDoll
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so without going into huge detail I have had health issue after health issue for the past 18 months

this morning my GP said I should stop being vegetarian. and if I could at least eat fish I would probably cure a few long standing complaints.

how do I start though? I have huge guilt feelings even thinking about it?
My advice has to be not to listen to anyone's advice on this.

Its important to you and you must take the responsibility and do your own research.

Start with google and good luck to you.
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Old 08-04-2016, 15:52
dellzincht
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If you want to get better, follow your GP's advice.

I'm sure the fish don't mind.
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Old 08-04-2016, 16:08
stud u like
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Veganism is the new nirvana. Fish have a face.
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Old 08-04-2016, 16:10
Macartist
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I have been Vege for years, but never gave up fish. Usually have something fishy at least once a week and life is sometimes easier when eating out as theres fish options to choose from. Microwaved bags of steamed marinated fish is quite nice and healthy and who can resist fish and chips occasionally
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Old 08-04-2016, 16:25
bluecr0
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I have been Vege for years, but never gave up fish. Usually have something fishy at least once a week and life is sometimes easier when eating out as theres fish options to choose from. Microwaved bags of steamed marinated fish is quite nice and healthy and who can resist fish and chips occasionally
That's Pescatarian NOT vegetarian
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Old 08-04-2016, 16:29
bluecr0
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so without going into huge detail I have had health issue after health issue for the past 18 months

this morning my GP said I should stop being vegetarian. and if I could at least eat fish I would probably cure a few long standing complaints.

how do I start though? I have huge guilt feelings even thinking about it?
It depends what your doc thinks you're missing shmisk, if it's protein or omega oils there are supplements for most
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Old 08-04-2016, 18:21
bluecr0
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Flax seeds for protein, omega 3 and omega-6
Chia for protein, fibre and omega-3

Sainsbury's stock Linwoods Milled Chia with Apple & Cinnamon (also has flax seed in)
add to porridge, cereal, yoghurt (especially greek, more protein)
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Old 08-04-2016, 21:17
degsyhufc
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so without going into huge detail I have had health issue after health issue for the past 18 months

this morning my GP said I should stop being vegetarian. and if I could at least eat fish I would probably cure a few long standing complaints.

how do I start though? I have huge guilt feelings even thinking about it?
Ask your GP why they are recommending fish and what alternatives would do the same.
Also get a second opinion from another GP or nutritionalist.
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Old 09-04-2016, 03:41
shmisk
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thank you for your advice everyone
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Old 09-04-2016, 11:38
squirtle
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There is more to health than physical health and if eating fish is going to make you unhappy, then eating it is not the answer for your overall welfare. There must be an alternative. All the best Shmisk.
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Old 09-04-2016, 22:51
Simon_More
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One of my closest friends has also been vegi for 25 years. He has been so I'll the last few years. I decided to insist on going to the doctors with him. It was a locum doctor. As my friend started to list his illnesses as of late the doctor said "you are a vegetarian aren't you". (I am not getting at or judging people lol) it just made me laugh that the doctor guessed this straight away.
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Old 10-04-2016, 10:23
walterwhite
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One of my closest friends has also been vegi for 25 years. He has been so I'll the last few years. I decided to insist on going to the doctors with him. It was a locum doctor. As my friend started to list his illnesses as of late the doctor said "you are a vegetarian aren't you". (I am not getting at or judging people lol) it just made me laugh that the doctor guessed this straight away.
Vegetarians live longer than meat eaters though, this is a proven fact. Some people have a problem with eating healthily when they become vegetarian, but overall it is extremely safe.
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Old 10-04-2016, 10:27
2shy2007
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What did he say you would gain from eating a fish? Don't forget that GPs only have about half a day training in nutrition so I would take anything they say with a pinch of Himalayan salt. No one NEEDS fish in their diet, whatever he thinks you need from it, you will be able to find elsewhere, don't compromise on your morals for the sake of a person who probably knows less about nutrition than most vegetarians do.
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Old 10-04-2016, 10:39
Tassium
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GPs are the worst people to take nutritional advice from.


The Vegetarian Society are probably a better bet:

https://www.vegsoc.org/supplements



------
If the OP is actually vegan then I'm sure there is information.
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Old 10-04-2016, 17:15
shmisk
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What did he say you would gain from eating a fish? Don't forget that GPs only have about half a day training in nutrition so I would take anything they say with a pinch of Himalayan salt. No one NEEDS fish in their diet, whatever he thinks you need from it, you will be able to find elsewhere, don't compromise on your morals for the sake of a person who probably knows less about nutrition than most vegetarians do.
its against a background of blood results, scans and the fact that I am losing my sight at 44.

He has referred me to a proper dietician.

As you can imagine I don't want to continue losing my sight.
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Old 10-04-2016, 18:02
Pumping Iron
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Vegetarians live longer than meat eaters though, this is a proven fact. Some people have a problem with eating healthily when they become vegetarian, but overall it is extremely safe.
They probably take care of what they eat in general, consuming more fresh produce and less processed food compared to your average meat eater. However just because you forgo meat and fish doesn't meant you'll directly live longer. The Japanese for example consume huge quantities of fish, yet have some of the highest life expectancies in the world.
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Old 10-04-2016, 22:31
barbeler
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so without going into huge detail I have had health issue after health issue for the past 18 months

this morning my GP said I should stop being vegetarian. and if I could at least eat fish I would probably cure a few long standing complaints.

how do I start though? I have huge guilt feelings even thinking about it?
That sounds a very odd thing for a doctor to say without telling you the exact reason, the most usual being a vitamin B12 deficiency, which can cause all kinds of serious problems. If you're one of the unlucky few who can't absorb enough of it, eating fish is unlikely to be of much help. You will probably be prescribed 3-monthly vitamin B12 injections, although many people are now claiming that this often isn't regular enough. Demand a blood test to find out why he is suggesting this rather simplistic answer to your problems.
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Old 10-04-2016, 22:36
planets
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That sounds a very odd thing for a doctor to say without telling you the exact reason, the most usual being a vitamin B12 deficiency, which can cause all kinds of serious problems. If you're one of the unlucky few who can't absorb enough of it, eating fish is unlikely to be of much help. You will probably be prescribed 3-monthly vitamin B12 injections, although many people are now claiming that this often isn't regular enough. Demand a blood test to find out why he is suggesting this rather simplistic answer to your problems.
You don't always get injections for B12 I was put on daily cyanocobalamin tablets when i was in hospital.

Vitamin D3 is crucial you can get all sorts of problems with a deficiency most common way to get D3 is oily fish. Again the tablet version is Desunin (which i always read with a bad jamaican accent in my head )
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Old 10-04-2016, 23:54
Toby LaRhone
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Vegetarians live longer than meat eaters though, this is a proven fact. Some people have a problem with eating healthily when they become vegetarian, but overall it is extremely safe.
http://qz.com/91123/vegetarians-live...dont-eat-meat/
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Old 11-04-2016, 09:10
shmisk
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That sounds a very odd thing for a doctor to say without telling you the exact reason, the most usual being a vitamin B12 deficiency, which can cause all kinds of serious problems. If you're one of the unlucky few who can't absorb enough of it, eating fish is unlikely to be of much help. You will probably be prescribed 3-monthly vitamin B12 injections, although many people are now claiming that this often isn't regular enough. Demand a blood test to find out why he is suggesting this rather simplistic answer to your problems.
I am already on vit B12 injections, folic acid and other supplements.

But I will go back and ask because actually fish were the reason I first became veggie - a family holiday by a fishing port I saw the fishermen tipping out their nets and was horrified watching the fish flapping as they suffocated to death.
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Old 11-04-2016, 09:41
moonlily
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One of my closest friends has also been vegi for 25 years. He has been so I'll the last few years. I decided to insist on going to the doctors with him. It was a locum doctor. As my friend started to list his illnesses as of late the doctor said "you are a vegetarian aren't you". (I am not getting at or judging people lol) it just made me laugh that the doctor guessed this straight away.
Really?- and when people get pancreatic cancer you laugh because they're a meat eater (and the sediment from that meat has been rotting them from the inside for years).

You can't generalise , you can have a perfectly healthy diet without eating meat.
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Old 11-04-2016, 11:37
barbeler
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You can't generalise , you can have a perfectly healthy diet without eating meat.
While this is true, it is also true that some people have difficulty in absorbing all the essential nutrients, especially as they get older. There's no reason why this might even happen to meat eaters. I assume that a century ago, the various problems that are symptomatic with this were merely thought of as being the typical signs of ageing, but modern blood testing allows these things to be diagnosed and corrected.
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Old 11-04-2016, 22:54
anneliese
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I say continue with it, but do try see how you feel about it. Try some tinned tuna and see how you feel. The protein you'd get from fish is no different than that from beans. Good multivitamins are the best bet too.
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Old 11-04-2016, 23:09
Sarah777
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That's Pescatarian NOT vegetarian
Exactly. I am a vegetarian and don't eat any form of life.
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