I've never done this before: started a discussion i mean. I am not terribly eloquent with words, but i will try my hardest :)  I am nineteen years old, and am just starting out, and i cannot believe how useful this website is. I have been a flirt for about a month now i would say. I've always been very committed to leading a healthy lifestyle, but there is so much that i didn't know, and i am just finding out about it now. Last night i watched 'Earthlings' (as i'm sure so many of you have) with my boyfriend's sister for the first time, and it really did change something inside of me. I know that sounds incredibly cliche'd, but all of a sudden i felt small and defenseless, and terribly, terribly ashamed of myself. And i want to be able to look at myself in the mirror every day without guilt, without shame, and with a self love, something i think can only be fulfilled when you love others. I looked at my friend and knew she was feeling the same. So now we are on the path to a clean life, and i am enjoying it every minute :) But i do have a bit of a query. You see, i am slightly anaemic. I get the black fuzzies (rushes of blood to the head) every time i stand up, and apart from that i do know how important iron is in everyday diet, especially for women. I do take a supplement for now, but what i would like to know is how to maintain the iron levels within my diet without eating beef, and also, what are good vegan sources of protein and calcium? Thank you :)

Hey girl! I have the same thing when I stand up, I've always felt dizzy. I am really conscious of my iron intake too. Here are some tips I have: eat foods with a good source of vitamin c when you eat an iron-rich meal. Vitamin c helps to absorb non-heme iron (the plant type). I make smoothies a few times a week with a cup of parsley (has vitamin C and tons of iron--40% of what you need for the day in one cup) with some frozen fruit, with some flax to cover my omega-3s. Pumpkin seeds are also a rich source of iron. Legumes, quinoa..everything has iron so you should be good.  

Oh thank you so much! I've just bought myself a blender so i'm really looking forward to making smoothies, thanks for your tips! :)

Hi Ali, Welcome! Search the forums for "iron supplements" -- there was a thread on this fairly recently and someone mentioned a liquid vegan iron supplement, if I remember correctly.

Floradix is well-respected in terms of supplements and I know they make an iron one, however I am not sure if it is vegan as not all of their products are.

Thanks guys, i'm having a look now!

Drinking rosehip tea daily can greatly improve your iron absorption levels. Molasses, lentils and dark leafy greens are all excellent sources of iron.