Let’s begin by busting some myths and getting real about some facts. Myth 1: You need meat to beat anemia and iron deficiency. Nobody needs to eat meat to avoid iron deficiency and anemia. However, you do need to eat more plants than meat and be more conscientious of food pairings to meet your iron requirements. Myth 2: Vegans and Vegetarians are NOT at Increased risk of iron deficiency and anemia. Sorry, but unfortunately, science disagrees and biology is gender discriminatory. In the vast majority of studies, female vegans and vegetarians have a higher prevalence of iron deficiency and anemia than both their meat-eating counter parts and male vegans and vegetarians.