Bruises
 

This may be a question more for the girls, but any help is appreciated. I tend to bruise really easily, and can't seem to find a legit answer as to why. The other night we got some snow here, and I slipped coming out of the building at work (I'm glad no one saw me, because I'm sure it was hilarious). Anyway, I didn't think it was a particularly hard fall, but the next morning I woke up with a huge nasty dark purple bruise on my leg. Not sexy! Sometimes I'll find a bruise on my arm or leg and have no idea how I got it.

The last doc I went to of course blamed it on the vegan thing, but I think that's bogus. I've had this problem as far back as high school, way before I was veg. I've heard it may be from an iron deficiency (thus more common in women), but I've always taken a supplement and try to eat foods high in iron. I'm baffled. Any ideas?

eat an I-Beam

Taking Welbutrin?

bioflavins and vitimin C are serious suggestions.

The ferrous or ferric iron that you're getting from a vegan diet and supplements is not as easily absorbed as heme iron found in meat. Try increasing your Vit E and especially C to improve absorbtion. Deficiency in Vit C alone could be the cause of the bruising - more likely in my opinion than iron deficiancy.
If you decide to take the C, avoid straight ascorbic acid and look for a sodium/calcium ascorbate - it's better for your tummy and won't eat the enamel off your teeth.

Nope, I'm not on any prescription meds. I'll look into the Vit. C thing--didn't know about that!

Doubt vegan/carnivore has the deciding role here.

MrsV bruises if I look crossly at her. Big dark purple marks, arms, legs, like circular mostly. Not from high impacts, sometimes waking up with a new bruise, Hey, where'd that come from?! No, I don't beat her in her sleep. You'd think whatever makes a mark like that would, you know, wake her up.

I, on the other hand, do not show bruises easily. They still hurt, but rarely show.

I think one difference is that her skin is fair and soft.

My friend has the same problem. I know your a vegan, but do you excersize much? She used to bruise really easily as well, but then she started running and "weight-ing". Not much, but as her moucles developed and became used more they seemed to bruise much less.

It must be the pea under the 8 mattresses, Princess. :biggrin:

classic! *claps*

Bruce, will you be my prince? :love:

Yeah, I'm a runner, too--4 to 5 miles per day. I really need to get into working out with weights though...maybe that would help.

Good to hear I could help. See if it works out. Just don't overdue it. ^_^ Another wise quote "Too much of anything is a deathwish"

Spinach!

Has been proven to do nothing. That was my first realization of the real world.... Watching Popeye and learning that spinach never made me anymore powerful..... I cried..... it was a hard time for me *sniff*