Vegan Nutrition with Jill Nussinow, MS, RD

Jill Nussinow is a Registered Dietitian, culinary educator, cookbook author, speaker and consultant and all around proponent of a plant-based diet. She teaches vegetarian and vegan cooking at Santa Rosa Junior College in California and other places around the US. She has a son who is almost 15. One of her greatest joys is sharing her enthusiasm for vegetables and pressure cooking with anyone who will listen.

Lack of Energy

I am an active woman and am feeling lethargic, I take vegan protein b and b12 kelp, and not for sure of how to bring my energy up. I do have allergies to wheat and yeast, I prepare beans and grains for protein also. What's missing girls?

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Jill Nussinow, MS, RD, The Veggie Queen^TM, answers:

From the little that you've mentioned about your diet, it's hard to tell what might be going on. When I am feeling a bit lethargic, the first thing that I wonder is if I've been getting enough restful sleep and if I am eating enough greens. Eating greens seems to help boost my energy level, likely because they are a great source of B vitamins, especially folic acid, and minerals, including iron.

You say that you are active and if you are not eating enough calories, that could cause you to feel less energetic. Eating regularly and enough can help with that. You could add more tempeh and tofu to your diet, if you feel so inclined. Or blend yourself a green smoothie every morning with greens, frozen fruit, nuts or flax seeds and some hemp protein powder.

Not eating yeast or wheat is not likely the issue for you although perhaps you are having other allergies which are leading to your lethargy. There are plenty of other grains, besides, wheat to eat. You might find that having a longer discussion with a Registered Dietitian about what you are eating and how it might affect your energy level helpful.

Visit Jill's website TheVeggieQueen.com and her blog theveggiequeen.blogspot.com.

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Disclaimer: The advice given here is for eductional purposes only. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified health care provider.
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