Vegan Nutrition with Dina Aronson, M.S. R.D.

Dina Aronson, MS, RD is a vegan dietitian whose specialties include chronic disease prevention, vegetarian/vegan nutrition, and lifestyle management. She is the founder and director of VeganRD.com, a nutrition consulting company. Active in many vegetarian nutrition organizations, Dina was the recipient of the American Dietetic Association's Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award in 2002.

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Does being vegan mean I will stop menstruating? I am 17 and a high school basketball player. I've recently gone vegan and now my cycles have really changed and become irregular. Is this due to diet? - Melissa

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Dear Melissa,

Certainly, a change in diet can change menstrual patterns. However, a well-balanced plant-based diet will not and should not cause menstruation to cease completely. I have heard of several cases where painful, heavy periods were relieved by switching to a vegan diet; it is not clear why this happens, though one possibility is the lack of hormones found in meat and dairy products, which can have an effect on our own hormonal balance.

Amenorrhea (lack of menstruation) is relatively common among female athletes. This is because when body fat stores reach a certain (low) level, menstruation cuts off. Are you eating fewer overall calories now, or working out harder, or both? These changes will cause your body fat percentage to decrease. If this is the case, it is another possible reason for the change you're seeing. Vegan diets are often less calorie-dense than a meat-containing diet; it is important that you're eating enough food to sustain your energy needs.

Are you eating a lot more soy than before? Eating more than 3 servings of soy a day, for some women, causes minor changes in their periods, typically a change the length of the cycle. However this has not been shown to be harmful.

If your cycle was regular before and is now irregular shortly after a dietary change, it may just be a matter of time before your body re-adjusts to its new hormone and/or fat level. If irregular periods continue and/or if you have any other symptoms, visit with a gynecologist. To make sure you're getting enough and the right type of nutrients for your needs (which are very high right now due to your age and activity level), see a dietitian specializing in vegan diets.

Disclaimer: The advice given here is for eductional purposes only. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified health care provider.

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