Im seventeen years old and have been vegan for eight months now recently I’ve noticed my hair has turned really dry and frizzy and my nails and skin turned pale. I’m really scared, I’ve been taking vitamins and that helped a bit with the nails but my hair is still a really dry and weird texture I looked it up online and think that it could be a protein deficiency. I’m afraid to go to the doctor because they’ll just tell me to eat animal products, my family doesn’t support me and I can’t work to buy my own food because I’m taking night classes along with regular school to graduate. If I save up money what foods should I buy and how can I fix my hair?
Protein/vitamin deficiency
- Thread starter Ashleylynn453
- Start date
I’ve been reading online and read it’s definatly possible for a vegan to not get enough protein especially someone in my situation where my diet isn’t very diverse. I eat beans every now and then or oatmeal. I mainly eat brown rice, peanut butter, or fruit. I don’t eat bread because of my gluten intolerance and my parents don’t buy a lot of vegetables. Trying to convince my mom to give me some money from child support so that I can at least buy some that will provide me with more nutrition.
Jamie in Chile
Forum Legend
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2016
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- Vegetarian
Protein deficiency is generally thought to be quite rare for people that get enough calories. If you are at a healthy weight and not losing weight, it's likely that you don't have a protein deficiency. However, it probably won't hurt to increase your protein a little just incase, but you should be considering other possible causes.
Low calcium is more of a concern for vegans than low protein - vegans are more likely to be below reccomended limits for calcium. Also, issues with hair and nails are often said to be possible symptoms of a calcium deficiency and I just googled this and found several articles saying so, (but I couldn't trace this advice back to a reputable scientific study or expert or health organization in the time I had to search for you). I reccomend you google calcium deficiency symptoms for yourself and see whether it seems to match what you are feeling.
Vegans should take specific care to eat specific sources of calcium, such as green vegetables and so on. However, the amounts can often be low. Eating almonds or taking a calcium supplement, or eating tofu with a high level of calcium, are probably good ideas. I suggest you consider a calcium supplement in the short term and see if it makes any improvement.
However, it's fairly unlikely that I can diagnose your condition just from reading a post on a forum. The chances are that it's something else so if you do increase your calcium levels you will still need to try other solutions at the same time probably.
You really need to see a professional ideally, however I appreciate your situation is difficult. You could also try this: https://veganoutreach.org/vegan-mentorship-program/ You may benefit from a mentor, although I'm not sure whether or not they would give nutrition advice.
Low calcium is more of a concern for vegans than low protein - vegans are more likely to be below reccomended limits for calcium. Also, issues with hair and nails are often said to be possible symptoms of a calcium deficiency and I just googled this and found several articles saying so, (but I couldn't trace this advice back to a reputable scientific study or expert or health organization in the time I had to search for you). I reccomend you google calcium deficiency symptoms for yourself and see whether it seems to match what you are feeling.
Vegans should take specific care to eat specific sources of calcium, such as green vegetables and so on. However, the amounts can often be low. Eating almonds or taking a calcium supplement, or eating tofu with a high level of calcium, are probably good ideas. I suggest you consider a calcium supplement in the short term and see if it makes any improvement.
However, it's fairly unlikely that I can diagnose your condition just from reading a post on a forum. The chances are that it's something else so if you do increase your calcium levels you will still need to try other solutions at the same time probably.
You really need to see a professional ideally, however I appreciate your situation is difficult. You could also try this: https://veganoutreach.org/vegan-mentorship-program/ You may benefit from a mentor, although I'm not sure whether or not they would give nutrition advice.
Thanks so much for your reply! This is definatly something to consider I’ve been taking multi vitamins but not daily, I’m still new at this so really appreciate the advice
Is there such a thing as a protein calculator app? I'm trying really hard to find one but everything I'm lookimg at is for non-vegans trying to watch their weight and calorie intake. My boyfriend and I are not eating enough calories and that makes me wonder about the amount of protein we are gatting as well.
Forest Nymph
Forum Legend
I would guess you're simply not eating enough. That your parents would not buy vegan food for you is abusive and you could even tell someone your parents don't supply enough food for you.
I've never had any issues like this and what you describe sounds more like starvation than "protein deficiency." You might also need fat that might be why your hair is dry. Try to eat more beans and cook food in vegetable oil (like potatoes and onions, very cheap foods) or get more seeds, nuts, and/or avocado.
Good luck.
I've never had any issues like this and what you describe sounds more like starvation than "protein deficiency." You might also need fat that might be why your hair is dry. Try to eat more beans and cook food in vegetable oil (like potatoes and onions, very cheap foods) or get more seeds, nuts, and/or avocado.
Good luck.
First, go to the doctor and consult with him. Maybe you have such hair not because of a deficiency of protein or vitamins. And maybe you may have problems in the body because of something else. But if you're sure it's because of a protein deficiency, buy soy, mushrooms, and legumes. These products have a huge protein content, and you will quickly restore balance in your body. By the way, I am also a vegan, although I gain muscle mass through hard training. And usually eat legumes or take vegan protein, and recently I learned about Sarms for Sale. And it turns out sarms can improve strength readings in the gym, but I will need to check this information again.
Last edited:
Lou
Forum Legend
hi GrownMan, welcome to VF.
Usually I would say that a visit to a doctor is a good idea. But a 17 year old girl should be getting an annual check up and that should be enough. I don't see any emergency here or need for drastic measures.
I said usually because, you probably don't know this because you are new but Ashley died mysteriously several years back.
JUST KIDDING!!
Really how did you even stumble upon this thread. It's been dead for at least 4 years. And no one has seen Ashley since.
Brian W
Conscientious Christian
There is plenty of protein in the two I have highlighted. You just have to eat enough to get the calories you need.
Well the IP is now 22 and hasn't come back. So many people start this way, with issues, and never seen again
So many things contribute to hair and skin problems. Any diet change can cause a temporary problem, just because it's a change,not neccessarily because you're lacking. Stress is a big factor
Hair also goes through cycles which mostly go unnoticed. I discovered this when I cut my hair and it didn't seem to be growing. Now with bangs they are having crazy growth
www.healthline.com
I wouldn't automatically rule out not enough protein. There are definitely people whose only significant protein comes from meat, and if they cut that out there diet would be low. Just adding beans, nuts, seeds even processed foods would be recommended
So many things contribute to hair and skin problems. Any diet change can cause a temporary problem, just because it's a change,not neccessarily because you're lacking. Stress is a big factor
Hair also goes through cycles which mostly go unnoticed. I discovered this when I cut my hair and it didn't seem to be growing. Now with bangs they are having crazy growth
Stages of Hair Growth Plus How to Maintain Hair Health in Every Stage
The four stages of hair growth are anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen. Each phase has its own timeline, which can be affected by age, nutrition, and overall health. Learn more.
www.healthline.com
I wouldn't automatically rule out not enough protein. There are definitely people whose only significant protein comes from meat, and if they cut that out there diet would be low. Just adding beans, nuts, seeds even processed foods would be recommended
beforewisdom
Forum Legend
Go to cronometer.com. Use the free version of the web site or the app.
For two weeks log all of your meals in it every day.
cronometer.com will tell you which nutrients you got enough of and which you did not.
For the nutrients you did not get enough of do a web search on "Top 10 sources of ____". You will get a number of lists. Pick a few vegan sources and starting the habit of eating those every day.
Doing this will help you correct your eating habits.
Take a b-12 supplement every day.
Good Luck.
For two weeks log all of your meals in it every day.
cronometer.com will tell you which nutrients you got enough of and which you did not.
For the nutrients you did not get enough of do a web search on "Top 10 sources of ____". You will get a number of lists. Pick a few vegan sources and starting the habit of eating those every day.
Doing this will help you correct your eating habits.
Take a b-12 supplement every day.
Good Luck.
