Low Iron - looking for advice

_SusieQ_

Went to the doc yesterday for some routine stuff, but ended up loaded down with daily "preventative" things to take. Bleh. One big problem is my iron. I'm anemic, and so she wants me to take a supplement. I hate taking pills. So she said if I could manage to eat more iron rich foods I don't have to take the supplement. I wondered if anyone had some good ideas about iron rich foods I can add to my diet. Also I need to increase my protein, so foods that will boost both is a plus!

Google is great, but I prefer asking for real world advice when I can. Thanks.

Agirard25

im anemic too and started taking a prenatal vitamin everyday-i know you hate pills, and no, I am not pregnant but I had them left over so I figured I'd use them up-and I have to tell you that it has made a WHOLE world of difference in my energy level! I would strongly consider adding a vitamin, I tried through food and never got enough!

Hellbent_Heidi

I think spinach is a good one..maybe more fresh salads, or dishes that use spinach & feta type fillings?

SanyamKaushik

I appreciate that you want to go natural way. The more natural, the better it is.
Dark green leafy vegetables e.g. spinach would be my starting point, followed by beans and nuts.

You might find this link quite helpful though.. It also tells you what foods would make it harder for your body to absorb iron.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Anaemia-iron-deficiency-/Pages/Treatment.aspx

castadiva

Red meat's the classic, and high-protein as well.

lorierin22

Red meat and green leafy vegetables have a lot of iron, but a good trick is to eat those along with vitamin c (orange juice, tomatoes, etc). The vitamin C natually helps your body absorb more of the iron from the food. This is a trick I picked up from the American Red Cross. I am not anemic, but my iron levels are sometimes not high enough to donate blood, so they offered this up as a tip to use prior to donations.

_SusieQ_

Red meat and green leafy vegetables have a lot of iron, but a good trick is to eat those along with vitamin c (orange juice, tomatoes, etc). The vitamin C natually helps your body absorb more of the iron from the food. This is a trick I picked up from the American Red Cross. I am not anemic, but my iron levels are sometimes not high enough to donate blood, so they offered this up as a tip to use prior to donations.

Yes, she had me pick up some Vitamin C as well for that very reason. I'm just hoping to do as much of this naturally as I can. I'll take the supplement for now, but working towards changing my diet too!

Sl1ghtly

You can buy iron supplements by the pound down at the Home Depot.

weathergirl320

steak....steak....steak....steak....

bushidowoman

I've had to take iron pills before as well, and I hate them! There are a few natural things you can try that are gentler on your GI system.
Floradix--available at health food stores or you can order it online.
Chlorophyll--a bit less expensive than the Floradix. I got drops and added them to whatever I was drinking.
Stinging nettle--you can order the dried leaf and drink it as a tea or infusion. It's the least expensive of the three, high in just about every nutritent your body needs. But some people don't like the taste (it tastes very..."green"). When I was pregnant, I would mix it 1:1 with oatstraw (also nutrient dense) because oatstraw has a mild, pleasant taste. Honey or stevia can also make it more palateable.

_SusieQ_

You can buy iron supplements by the pound down at the Home Depot.

Yes but that might cause me to jingle when I walk. And I'm training to be a ninja, so noisy things won't help.

Thanks for playing.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

spinach and liver

whatevany

I use a cast-iron frying pan and teapot. When I gave blood I was told that my iron levels were really good. And steak also :drinker:

lorierin22

Red meat and green leafy vegetables have a lot of iron, but a good trick is to eat those along with vitamin c (orange juice, tomatoes, etc). The vitamin C natually helps your body absorb more of the iron from the food. This is a trick I picked up from the American Red Cross. I am not anemic, but my iron levels are sometimes not high enough to donate blood, so they offered this up as a tip to use prior to donations.

Yes, she had me pick up some Vitamin C as well for that very reason. I'm just hoping to do as much of this naturally as I can. I'll take the supplement for now, but working towards changing my diet too!

Check out American Red Cross website. They have a great list of foods with iron and with vitamin C. You can eat these combos and try to do it through food alone. Good luck!!

bcattoes

Your doctor told you to increase iron rich foods but didn't tell what foods were rich in iron??

Meat is a good source and will give you the protein you want as well. Dried beans are also a good source and have protein. Most dark leafy greens are high in iron, but not protein.

Cereals are usually iron fortified so they are a good source.

sewerchick93

I deal with anemia as well, you definitely need the vitamin C to help absorb the iron and as far as food, lean red meats and organ meats (Liver), leafy greens, beets, artichokes, dates, plums raisins, molasses. Thats all I can think of off the top of my head.

SAMSON25

Like others have said: leafy greens (spinach) fish (tuna, sardines) meats (red meat, livers).

But an easy one is Cheerios! 1 cup = 100 cals and about 50% DV Iron

I was looking to up my iron intake a while back, and a handful of cheerios in the morning was an easy solution

_SusieQ_

Your doctor told you to increase iron rich foods but didn't tell what foods were rich in iron??

Meat is a good source and will give you the protein you want as well. Dried beans are also a good source and have protein. Most dark leafy greens are high in iron, but not protein.

Cereals are usually iron fortified so they are a good source.

She listed a few things, but wasn't as forthcoming as I would have liked. Partially my fault, I went on my lunch hour and was in a rush. :facepalm: But as I started thinking about it more last night I realized I don't want to HAVE to take pills if I can find another way.

But an easy one is Cheerios! 1 cup = 100 cals and about 50% DV Iron

I was looking to up my iron intake a while back, and a handful of cheerios in the morning was an easy solution

Oh, good one, thank you.

lorierin22

http://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/health-and-wellness/iron-rich-foods

Here you go....this list has like 50 things on it from all major food groups!

viclee1

a couple other ones I found surprising was cream of wheat, and black strap molasses. I found iron pills to be super constipating, so you may want to up your fiber or take some metamucil or something if you're going that route. Also try avoiding milk/ dairy within an hour of iron. Good Luck!

tracylelak

blood transfusion! i had one and felt like superwoman afterwards!

Lesa_Sass

An iron supplement is not a drug, please by all means, take one, it will change your life! It is small and inexpensive.

I was crazy anemic and could not believe the change in that one little tiny iron supplement made in my life. Its fast and easy, and does not require a day of planning how I can get more iron in my diet.

sapalee

Chocolate, I posted a thread earlier on it!

bushidowoman

Just as vitamin c increases the absorption of iron, there are also foods that block the absorption of iron--like whole grains, eggs, dairy, and tea.

castadiva

Like others have said: leafy greens (spinach) fish (tuna, sardines) meats (red meat, livers).

But an easy one is Cheerios! 1 cup = 100 cals and about 50% DV Iron

I was looking to up my iron intake a while back, and a handful of cheerios in the morning was an easy solution

Really?! May have to get some to have in my snack stash at work for low-iron days. Thanks for the tip!

_SusieQ_

Just as vitamin c increases the absorption of iron, there are also foods that block the absorption of iron--like whole grains, eggs, dairy, and tea.

Ugh, I'm beginning to dislike the PA I went to...she did not mention foods that block absorption. Thank you for this. I will do more research on my own as well, but I do appreciate all the comments posted. (well, maybe not Koosdel, but we won't go there).

lawkat

I am borderline anemic and I try to make sure I get my fill of iron rich foods. Cream of wheat is surprisingly loaded with iron. If you cook that up with some molasses, you are at nearly 60% of your daily intake of iron. I also add some berries on the side to help with the absorption of it. I am a vegetarian so I eat more lentils, beans, brown rice, quinoa, spinach and whatever else is loaded with iron. As people said, adding more vitamin C helps with the absorption of iron found in non meat sources.

ChristinaOlliver

Seaweed is becoming really popular at the moment as it's really high in iron, something like 23 times more than a steak. You can get seaweed flakes that you can sprinkle on food if you don't want to eat it in any other form.

bcattoes

Raisins, prunes and prune juice are also high in iron (and sugar).

bushidowoman

Just as vitamin c increases the absorption of iron, there are also foods that block the absorption of iron--like whole grains, eggs, dairy, and tea.

Ugh, I'm beginning to dislike the PA I went to...she did not mention foods that block absorption. Thank you for this. I will do more research on my own as well, but I do appreciate all the comments posted. (well, maybe not Koosdel, but we won't go there).

If health care providers are going to suggest iron supplements, then they need to also tell you the ways to maximize the effectiveness and minimize the unpleasantness! Big pet peeve of mine. Doctors and nurses know these things (I am a nurse), they are just often so busy and rushing to get to the next patient that they don't take the time to do all the teaching.
And then they don't like it when we google and treat ourselves. :laugh:

serhanilker

Foods that are rich in essential nutrients include:

Iron - red meat, liver, green vegetables, eggs, dried apricots, sardines, spinach, fortified breakfast cereals, wholemeal bread
Vitamin B12 - meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, fortified breakfast cereals
Folic acid - wheatgerm, broccoli, green cabbage, pulses, nuts, yeast extract

It's also important to have plenty of vitamin C because it helps the body to absorb iron from the diet.