Anyone who has sharply reduced meat consumption, not just vegans – should get blood tests at least annually, as described here: The Key Blood Tests Every Vegan Should Get | Simply Healthy Vegan
I did not consider myself vegetarian but had nearly eliminated meat from my diet, ate eggs whites but not egg yolks, had cut back on dairy, and during this period, also had hepatitis, which can reduce the liver’s store of B12. My health collapsed: fatigue, chronic headaches, dizziness, brain fog, hair loss, joint pain, vertigo and more. For over a year, I was seriously ill – until I accidentally discovered I was likely B12 deficient (after which I had blood tests done and now take B12 supplement daily, indefinitely, at the direction of my doctor).
Eating vegan/vegetarian is not natural and not something you can do “casually”. If you choose to do that, you MUST tell your doctor, consult with a dietician, and have your blood periodically tested. I will not return to vegetarian eating after my experience. I spent over US $5,000 out of pocket of numerous medical tests trying to find the cause of my problems and spent about 18 months having serious health problems, which cleared up after restoring my B12 and protein levels.
