IRON

Options
jenneyd
jenneyd Posts: 308 Member
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I never manage to get the recommended amount of iron in my diet (no wonder I'm anemic). Anyone have tasty food ideas to add? Not a big fan of cooked grains, but i do love my veggies and meat!

Replies

  • elainegsd
    elainegsd Posts: 459 Member
    If you google "iron rich foods" you will come up with a whole list.
  • hooah_mj
    hooah_mj Posts: 1,004 Member
    Liver & onions...yum:)
  • Jourdan_Rystrom
    Jourdan_Rystrom Posts: 176 Member
    I am also anemic...I found out the last time I went to the doctor and was surprised.

    The best things to eat are OYSTERS & CLAMS...although I absolutely despise them...but they have almost 4x the amount of iron as any other food.

    I try to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables as they enhance iron absorption - I also take an iron supplement prescribed to me by my doctor.

    - Jourdan
  • nikhil_c8
    nikhil_c8 Posts: 100 Member
    If your main source of Iron is Veggies..make sure you have some vitamin C rich Fruits to aid in Iron Absorption.the iron in Veggies is usually Non heme Iron...which is not properly absorbed..SO spinach with Lime juice...etc

    To boost the amount of iron in your diet, try these foods:

    * Red meat
    * Egg yolks
    * Dark, leafy greens (spinach, collards)
    * Dried fruit (prunes, raisins)
    * Iron-enriched cereals and grains (check the labels)
    * Mollusks (oysters, clams, scallops)
    * Turkey or chicken giblets
    * Beans, lentils, chick peas and soybeans
    * Liver
    * Artichokes
  • sexygenius
    sexygenius Posts: 1,078 Member
    liver!!! yum!!!
    and spinach!! yum!!!
    and oysters!! double yum!!!
    and steak!!!!!! ba-zillion YUMM!!!!
  • Chick Peas are loaded with iron. 1/2 cup has 100 calories and 25% of your daily iron.

    Try draining and rinsing a can of chick peas. Put them into a ziploc bag with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil & your favorite spices (I like garam masala, chili powder or curry powder). Spread them on a baking tray and bake them in a 350 oven for 30 minutes, shaking the tray every 10 minutes. They make a great snack.
  • melleyd
    melleyd Posts: 432 Member
    I was anemic for years but I don't think I am anymore. They told me to cook in cast iron pans, some of the iron will leach into your food. It's not going to show up on your list but may help with your anemia. Actually what finally cured me was when I started taking ferrous sulfate tablets. Took iron pills for years at the doc's recommendation but they didn't help at all! I think I have some extra of the ferrous sulfate if you want me to send them to you. I don't need to take them anymore! :)

    Good advice from others on the absorption of non-heme iron. You must have foods that help the absorption if it's not coming from meat. FYI, apparently white wine enhances absorption but red wine inhibits it....
  • jenneyd
    jenneyd Posts: 308 Member
    thank you all for the posts! I am going to try the chickpeas! That sounds yummy and just the kind of thing I was looking to add to my diet.
This discussion has been closed.