bruising easily

[RawLoveBaby]

Is there something my body is missing if I bruise easily?

A SAD eater said it's cause I don't eat meat and am missing iron? If it's iron, what plant foods are high in iron?

[Veganforlife]

First - don't listen to SAD/CRAP eaters...they know not what they speak of. Second - sea veggies - loaded with iron...

[Raene]

Green peas have lotsa iron too. YUM!

[Veganforlife]

Lettuce not forget spinach!!!

[KindnessToAllCreatures]

I've read that not having enough vitamin C in one's diet can lead to bruising easily.

[RawLoveBaby]

I'll start eating more sea veggies. I do green smoothies every day and eat a fair bit of spinach. I eat lots of fruit and also take a whole food vitamin C supplement with my msm. Anything else?

Is there another reason besides lack of iron or vitamin c?

[Veganforlife]

Taken from: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080113044319AAdnjal

Find out what causes easy bruising as you age and when you should discuss your bruises with your doctor.
Yet another bruise. What caused that dark, unsightly mark on your leg? You don't recall bumping into anything. But lately you've been bruising much more often than you used to. Should you be concerned?

It's common to experience easy bruising with increasing age, and most bruises go away without treatment. Still, easy bruising can sometimes be a sign of a more serious problem.

Age-related causes of easy bruising in older adults

Most bruises form when small blood vessels (capillaries) near your skin's surface are broken by the impact of a blow or injury. When this happens, blood leaks out of the vessels and initially appears as a bluish-black mark. Eventually your body reabsorbs the blood, and the mark usually disappears.

Some people — especially women — are more prone to bruising than are others. As you get older, several factors may contribute to increased bruising, including:

Aging capillaries. Over time, the tissues supporting these vessels weaken, and capillary walls become more fragile and prone to rupture.
Thinning skin. With age, your skin becomes thinner and loses some of the protective fatty layer that helps cushion your blood vessels against injury. Excessive exposure to the sun can affect your skin much like aging does.
Generally, the harder the blow, the larger the bruise. However, if you bruise easily, a minor bump — one you may not even notice — can result in substantial discoloration. Your arms and legs are typical locations for bruises.

Medications and supplements can cause easy bruising

Blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin and warfarin (Coumadin) or medications such as clopidogrel (Plavix) reduce your blood's ability to clot. Because of this, bleeding from capillary damage that would normally stop quickly may take longer to stop, allowing enough blood to leak out to cause a bruise.

Corticosteroids cause your skin to thin, making it easier to bruise. Don't stop taking your medications if you experience increased bruising. Talk to your doctor about your concerns and ask what you should do.

Certain dietary supplements such as fish oil, ginkgo, ginger and garlic also may increase your bruising risk, since these supplements have a blood-thinning effect. Make sure your doctor is aware of any supplements you're taking — especially if you're taking them while on a blood-thinning drug. Your doctor may recommend avoiding certain over-the-counter medications or supplements.

When bruises indicate more serious problems
Bruising may also indicate something more serious, such as a blood-clotting problem or a blood disease. See your doctor if:

You have unusually large or painful bruises, particularly if your bruises seem to develop for no known reason
You're bruising easily and you're experiencing abnormal bleeding elsewhere, such as from your nose, gums or intestinal tract

You have no history of bruising but suddenly experience bruises, particularly if you recently started a new medication
These signs and symptoms can indicate that you have low levels — or abnormal function — of platelets, components of blood that help it clot after an injury. To diagnose the cause of your bruising, your doctor may check your blood platelet levels or do tests that measure the ability of your blood to coagulate.


Other serious causes of bruising include domestic violence or abuse. If a loved one has an unexplainable bruise, particularly in an unusual location such as around the eye or face, inquire about the possibility of abuse.

Also, another point to remember. In women, bruising is common just before your menstrual cycles. This is due to hormonal imbalance.

Vit K is essential for proper blood clotting. However, because Vit k is a fat soluble vitamin. Meaning it should be given by injection to avoid being broken down by the stomach acids. the following are sources of Vit K: spinach, cabbage, other leafy green veggies; pork, liver; green tea

Required dosage:

Males: 120 mcg
Females: 90 mcg


Excessive bleeding, easy bruising may interfere with
anti-clotting drugs; that one might be taking such as Coumadin for atrial fibrillation to prevent clots.

[RawLoveBaby]

hmmm... lots of interesting info there. Thanks.

None of it seems to apply to me, except one thing about bruising before menstrual cycle because of hormone imbalance. I've recently been wondering if I have a hormone imbalance because of a number of chronic symptoms I get no matter what I'm doing right.