Anemia

mom2davis
mom2davis Posts: 4
edited September 19 in Food and Nutrition
A couple weeks ago, I went to the doctor for something. While there, they decided to run some tests. One of them was blood work. Now, I'm normally borderline anemic (hemoglobin count 22 when it should be 27-32). This last time ... I had a count of 9. That's right NINE! My doctor said I was at a "transfusion level". Scared me to death.

Okay ... my question. Besides the pills that my doctor has prescribed for me, what foods are rich in iron that I could be eating? I've heard the greener the better but ... I'd appreciate something a little more specific. Maybe even some ways to spice them up a bit besides ... say ... spinach. Any ideas?

TIA!
Chris

[I wasn't sure if this would fit into the "Food and Nutrition" category or the "Recipes". Sorry if I placed it in the wrong one.]

Replies

  • mom2davis
    mom2davis Posts: 4
    A couple weeks ago, I went to the doctor for something. While there, they decided to run some tests. One of them was blood work. Now, I'm normally borderline anemic (hemoglobin count 22 when it should be 27-32). This last time ... I had a count of 9. That's right NINE! My doctor said I was at a "transfusion level". Scared me to death.

    Okay ... my question. Besides the pills that my doctor has prescribed for me, what foods are rich in iron that I could be eating? I've heard the greener the better but ... I'd appreciate something a little more specific. Maybe even some ways to spice them up a bit besides ... say ... spinach. Any ideas?

    TIA!
    Chris

    [I wasn't sure if this would fit into the "Food and Nutrition" category or the "Recipes". Sorry if I placed it in the wrong one.]
  • tamazinglee
    tamazinglee Posts: 186 Member
    Good sources of iron include the following:
    meats - beef, pork, lamb, liver, and other organ meats
    poultry - chicken, duck, turkey, liver (especially dark meat)
    fish - shellfish, including clams, mussels, and oysters, sardines, anchovies
    leafy greens of the cabbage family, such as broccoli, kale, turnip greens, and collards
    legumes, such as lima beans and green peas; dry beans and peas, such as pinto beans, black-eyed peas, and canned baked beans
    yeast-leavened whole-wheat bread and rolls
    iron-enriched white bread, pasta, rice, and cereals

    I've stuggled with Anemia since for 15 years!
  • dani728
    dani728 Posts: 15
    hey i went to donate blood and found out my iron was too low, and had to come back two weeks later. when i went back it was lower than the 1st visit! the nurse told me that some of the hormones in regular (not organic) milk can block iron absorbtion. (she suggested this because i had been eating Total cereal like mad woman and could hardly believe it when she told me the numbers:) so less/ no non organic moo juice?
  • Anna_Banana
    Anna_Banana Posts: 2,939 Member
    here is some info I found


    There are two different types of digestible iron in food:
    1. hemo iron, found in red meat seafood and poultry, and
    2. non-hemo iron found in breads, fruits, breakfast cereals, vegetable, legumes (e. g. baked beans), nuts and eggs. Iron Rich Foods, Foods Rich in Iron and high Iron Foods with foods with iron.

    Hemo iron foods are rich in iron and contain iron in a form that is easily absorbed by the body. Red meat also has a special effect on iron absorption. Red meat, when eaten together with the vegetables, can boost the absorption of non-hemo iron by up to 400%. Vitamin C has a similar positive effect on the absorption of iron.

    In other words, the key to a healthy iron rich diet is to eat a combination of iron rich foods, high in both hemo and non-hemo iron.
  • areay
    areay Posts: 463
    I just was at the blood donating clinic and they said that if you drink iced tea with your meals it will help bring your iron level up.
  • Anna_Banana
    Anna_Banana Posts: 2,939 Member
    There are some food that help you absorb iron like strawberries, cantelope and red meats. And some that inhibit absorbsion like soy and whole grain products.

    This is a good web site with lots of iron info. http://www.healthcastle.com/high-iron-diet.shtml It should be able to answer most questions you have.
  • jenninsocal
    jenninsocal Posts: 419
    I just wanted to say the iron supplements help A LOT. I went from anemic to barely borderline in like 2 months with them. They taste nasty, but they work
  • Eve23
    Eve23 Posts: 2,352 Member
    :flowerforyou: When I was pregnant with my son I was very low in iron. One of the things my midwife suggested was a iron supplement that was liquid. YOu can find it in most health food stores. I don't recall the name but I am sure there are many different brands. She told me it was better than the pills available. I know spinach is a good one and I know there are otehrs I don't recall at the moment.

    Good luck:flowerforyou:
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