Low Iron Stores?

detox_pixie
detox_pixie Posts: 166
in Food and Nutrition
Recently I found out that my ferritin level is 12. My doc seems to think that this iron deficiency can be cured by a change in diet, with the addition of broccoli, red meat, and spinach and the like. I'm wondering if anyone here knows how fast one could reasonably raise one's level from 12 to 20 through diet and minimal supplementation alone. Also, below is a one day representative sample diet plan I have worked out, with the inclusion of a multivitamin that has 86% rda of iron and a pack of spatone which is about 34% rda of iron and a Haliborange tablet broken up into 4 to have in water for each meal.

1st breakfast:

2 cups coffee and 1.5 cups milk

snack:

25 g walnuts
3 dried apricots or two fresh

Breakfast:
2 eggs, 2 cups fresh spinach or cup of broccoli, & 25 g cheddar

Lunch:

Chicken livers, onions, potatoes, and leafy green salad with avocado

Dinner

Chilli made with kidney beans, red peppers, ground beef, onions, and plum tomatoes

Replies

  • paygep
    paygep Posts: 401 Member
    Hey there! It's good to add iron from the sources you have planned out. I wanted to recommend a few more options for you, too, as I have also struggled to keep my iron levels up. Use a cast iron skillet to prepare your meals. Iron rubs off on the food! Certain chocolates have iron content in the 20-30% RDA per serving range, like Chocolove brand Extra Dark or Coffee Crunch and Equal Exchange brand Panama Dark. And I get iron fortified cereal for when I feel like having cereal.

    You don't want the doc to have to give you an iron IV... ugh.

    Oh and I have my diary set to show my daily iron content on my front diary page, along with the fat, protien and carbs. It helps!
  • detox_pixie
    detox_pixie Posts: 166
    Thanks! I'll try all your suggestions!

    After logging all my food today, pre-supplements, I only totalled 45% rda in Iron. I wonder if there's an estimate of iron added by cooking on a cast iron skillet.

    Iron IV? Sounds dreadful!

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