Iron level help!

Blackbird16

I'm anemic and have run out of iron supplements, I've started getting dizzy and the dark circles under my eyes are coming back.. Does anyone know what foods are high in iron? (that isn't meat)

alexngbr

Try spinach, kale, watercress, nuts, apricots, prunes, raisins.
Although if you're feeling that unwell it might be an idea to see a doctor?

BerkshireFitness

Meat free sources are dark-green leafy vegetables, such as watercress and curly kale, iron-fortified bread and cereals, beans & lentils, nuts, apricots, prunes and raisins.

Blackbird16

Thanks for the replies
I have seen a doctor, I got put on some supplements but I can't afford them at the moment so I was hoping to find something more affordable for in the meantime

Zombierawr

I am iron related anemic too, and unfortunately, if you are like me, it doesn't matter what you eat. You have to take the supplements. I have tried high iron diets, but medically I am screwed. I know that my integra (awesome super prescription iron) is too expensive some months (COME ON GENERICS!) but over the counter supplements aren't terrible. But I have to take 4 for every one of my prescriptions.

Trust me, it isn't something you want to mess with.

Also, I do smoothies with bananas, ice, spinach and orange juice and strawberries. You can't taste the spinach (it ain't pretty) but orange juice makes iron absorption easier. And bananas are also high in iron. And obviously, avoid calcium for two hours before and after taking iron.

Hazeleys

I am anemic as well, but can't tolerate taking iron supplements. I have started eating a serving of Total cereal with milk for breakfast. Total has 100% of daily value of Iron as well as many other minerals and vitamins. Not sure if it is absorbed as well as the iron supplement I was taking, but I don't have the side effects either!

Sp1nGoddess

the iron in spinach is not easily absorbed. meat really is the best source. make sure you are getting enough B12, if you are vegetarian you could be deficient.

you should go to your doc for more supplements, chelated iron is best.

( just heard this info yesterday on a health show)

steadk

dark green leafy veggies (spinach, kale, etc.) peanuts/pb, red meat and beans are all good options

charfromdarock

No matter what I eat, I need to take supplements. Even the over the counter ones are better than nothing.

Beans & dried fruits are higher in iron.

eodvarka

Lots of cereals and foods like spinach and red meat and lentils.
I have extreme anemia, too (diagnosed last year), and it really does suck.
Pair these foods with vitamin C to help the absorption (like an orange, orange juice, etc).
I REALLY love the cereal Quaker Oat Squares--- they're DELICIOUS, and one serving contains 90% of your iron intake

Sabine321

Green veggies and red ones too. Beets and beet juice are very good. Or everything red I was told before. Cherry, Grapes...not sure how much is in there but it helps. If you eat meat, liver works too...lol

alicepoppyh

I'm a little anaemic but try to do without supplements, some good non-meat ones are spinach, kale, brocolli, dark green cabbage, pumpkin & sunflower seeds, lentils, lots of kinds of beans, cereals... and my personal favourite excuse- Guinness (ok so it's not that high but it's there!)

cainie19

brocolli, spinach, chocolate has a little iron in too also cinnamon has an unexpected amount of iron in it! try some cinnamon

SweetSammie

Molasses has some. Do you eat seafood? Mussels are a great source of iron.

darsh11

I am also anemic. My doc reccommended vitamed.com. They have a 150mg iron supplement that is not too expensive. She also recommended taking the iron with B-12 to help it be absorbed into the blood better.

Dragonnade

Guiness. Just an inch or so in a glass, not much. Used to be prescibed but that's fallen out of fashion rather, especially given it's mostly pregnant women with iron deficiency...

bloodbank

Google a list of high iron foods. Eating heme & nonheme iron together helps absorption, as does having vitamin c with iron. Calcium hinders absorption, so try not to eat iron-rich and calcium-rich foods together.

That said, if you know the dose you were Rx'd, you can pick up both iron & vitamin c over the counter for about $5 a bottle.

I take 300mg of ferrous gluconate (70mg elemental iron) daily (with 1500mg vit c) that I got OTC (in addition to a higher iron diet), because when I was Rx'd it, I found out that my insurance doesn't cover 'nutritional supplements' so my doc suggested just picking some up at Walmart for cheapness.

darsh11

sorry the website is vitamedmd.com

MindyG150

I am iron related anemic too, and unfortunately, if you are like me, it doesn't matter what you eat. You have to take the supplements. I have tried high iron diets, but medically I am screwed. I know that my integra (awesome super prescription iron) is too expensive some months (COME ON GENERICS!) but over the counter supplements aren't terrible. But I have to take 4 for every one of my prescriptions.

Trust me, it isn't something you want to mess with.

Also, I do smoothies with bananas, ice, spinach and orange juice and strawberries. You can't taste the spinach (it ain't pretty) but orange juice makes iron absorption easier. And bananas are also high in iron. And obviously, avoid calcium for two hours before and after taking iron.

Like you I could never eat enough food to cover my deficit, I take iron twice a day and I eat right too. I am back at the doctors office in the morning for a blood test and I'm hoping that I can get down to 1 pill a day. Don't mess with this ladies, it's not worth it.

Blackbird16

Wow have to say thanks again for all the replies!
Hmm.. I'll definitely have a look around for a cheaper iron supplement tomorrow, as well as some of the the foods mentioned because it'd be great to be able to work them into my diet, just invade I get into a situation like this again

Thanks again!

seamonkey789

Which supplement were you on? My iron was super low, and I got put on ICAR-C and my levels went back to normal in 2-3 months.

Also, I have a smoothie recipe that is almost the daily recommended dose of iron. If you have access to Sam's and can get their Naturade protein powder or find one similar, here is the recipe. You can get the green max powder from swansonsvitamins.com

2 cups soy milk
2 scoops protein powder
1 scoop green max powder
1 cup plain greek yogurt
1/3-1/2 cup frozen mixed berries
2 tbs flax seeds
1 tbs chia seeds

sdm329

No matter how you eat or take your body will only absorb so much at a time. My iron had bottomed out fin July of 2011 and now it is back to normal. I had every test under the sun to figure out why, never got an answer. All I did was take an OTC iron with a Vit C every morning and every night. It took a while, but I didn't need an iron infusion. My hemotologist told me to just told to keep doing what I was doing. I did get it checked every month to make sure it was improving. You don't want it to bottom out but you can't force it. It's a slow and steady process. DO NOT take calcium or eat dairy with the iron, it hinders the absorption, just like the others posted earlier. Good Luck and stay in touch with you physician.

MrsWilsoncroft

Which healthy foods are reliable sources of iron?

Beef Liver
Spinach
Lima beans
Lentils
Potato, with skin
Navy beans
Organic beef
Organic chicken
California avocado

http://www.24hrfitness.co.uk/nutrition/2010/foods-containing-iron.html

jennifer783

cream of wheat.

payal2012

apples,spinach

Blackbird16

I'm not sure what supplement I was on but I had to take two a day with orange juice for 3 months or as long as it took for me to 'level out'
I'll definitely try that smoothie though!

JersryGirl31

I have found by tracking the foods I eat on MFP that the biggest percentage of iron comes from fortified cereals, pastas and breads. Spinach and other dark leafy vegetables had some, but not as much as a bowl Total or even Cheerios.

sabinecbauer

Top of the pops: cream of wheat. One serving gives you 50% of your daily requirement of iron.

zaithyr

I have pretty bad iron deficiency anemia (I've had to have iron infusions before). I just started taking some carbonyl iron ("tender iron" you can find it online or in nutrition stores) because I can't stomach normal over the counter iron supplements. It's not horribly expensive and it absorbs better than the other supplements if you have absorption issues. Might be cheaper than the prescription stuff! Often with iron deficiency that is prolonged it's due to malabsorption issues and simply eating more iron enriched foods won't totally restore it to the level it needs to be.

HodderAL

Have you tried the Iron supplements that you can find at a pharmacy? They'll do if need be.

Food-wise, try fortified foods like cereal and instant oatmeal and you could try dark green leafy vegetables.

stephc0711

My favorite to help with my iron levels are the quaker oatmeal squares cereal, one cup is 90% of the daily value, but you could also pick up some OTC iron pills to get you through. If you're that anemic, though, you should probably head to the doctor.