Polka Dot Images/Thinkstock
DCL
It has become more and more clear that a meat-free (or at least reduced-meat) diet is the way to go both for the planet and for your health. But there are still some nutrients which are a little more difficult to get when you're a vegan. But if you're vigilant, it's really not hard at all. An iron deficiency is a common ailment amongst even the most intense health nuts, but iron is crucial to helping the body function well.
Iron is used in the body to carry oxygen in red blood cells to the muscles. More specifically, iron helps us to produce energy, so if you're not getting enough iron, you can feel drained and tired. Usually if you're a healthy vegan and your diet consists of mostly vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and whole grains, you're in the clear, but for those of us that slip up once in a while and call chips and salsa a vegan meal, make sure that these nutritionally dense foods make it into your diet.
