Iron deficiency - please share your tips

There are some fortified cereals on the market. I have some cornflakes that has 50% of the daily allowance per serving.

I can't take iron pills nor even a multi-vitamin with iron...just messes with my stomach. I am always struggling to get iron. I don't eat a lot of red meat...almost none so that limits what I can get from foods.

Iron-Rich Foods
Very good sources of heme iron, with 3.5 milligrams or more per serving, include:

3 ounces of beef or chicken liver
3 ounces of clams, mollusks, or mussels
3 ounces of oysters
Good sources of heme iron, with 2.1 milligrams or more per serving, include:

3 ounces of cooked beef
3 ounces of canned sardines, canned in oil
3 ounces of cooked turkey
Other sources of heme iron, with 0.7 milligrams or more per serving, include:

3 ounces of chicken
3 ounces of halibut, haddock, perch, salmon, or tuna
3 ounces of ham
3 ounces of veal
Iron in plant foods such as lentils, beans, and spinach is nonheme iron. This is the form of iron added to iron-enriched and iron-fortified foods. Our bodies are less efficient at absorbing nonheme iron, but most dietary iron is nonheme iron.

Iron supplements are the easiest thing. I remember having to be prescribed ferrous sulfate as a kid because I was iron deficient and wouldn't eat enough meat (what an idiot, sheesh). It helped except I remember feeling like I was pooping tiny boulders.

Chocolate Malt O Meal

This content has been removed.

I have too much iron. Its is a genetic thing called hemochromatosis, meaning I have to have less than 25% of my daily allowance I can tell you the things I avoid.

Cereal is tough for me, especially grape nuts and many high fiber cereals, because most have more than 25% of daily recommended. Most standard multivitamins have a high daily iron percentage especially ones for women. I also avoid vitamin C rich foods as this helps the body process and retain iron. Leafy greens, especially spinach, are good sources especially if paired with things like orange juice. You should avoid calcium when trying to absorb more iron naturally too as it can hinder absorbtion.

There are lots of tips about iron rich foods available so do your research, eat well, track your daily intake and take a multi-vitamin with high content.

Good luck.

This content has been removed.

Do you know what is causing the deficiency? If it is a health issue, you cannot avoid the supplements, until you can address the cause (if it is even treatable). If it just your diet, then figure out why. Is it a matter of eating no meat? What would you be ok with adding to your diet? Seafood? Eggs? Lentils? Spinach?

Unfortunately if it is a true iron deficiency, you will need to do more than just eat iron rich foods. Get a blood test to make sure and then buy an iron supplement with vitamin c in it. Not sure about other countries but here in Australia there are two kinds of iron supplements. Some say "not for the treatment of iron deficiencies or anemia" and are available at supermarkets etc. while there are others that are actual pharmacy grade supplements for treating deficiencies. It is very common for iron supplements to cause upset stomachs and bowel issues but personally I think that's better than the problems low iron levels can bring. I've heard that taking the supplements with food can help ease stomach pains but dairy, eggs and foods high in fibre can inhibit the absorption of iron so you have to be careful.

Find a good iron supplement and take it with a vitamin C tab too. Vitamin C helps absorption, whereas coffee and tea (and I think dairy) block it. So time when u take the supplement right.

If nothing seems to be working, maybe try liquid iron. I didn't notice much of a difference between that and the cheapest iron pills (when taken right), but some people swear by it, so may be worth looking into.

Low iron _sucks_ so I hope you find something that works for you.

Edit: Lol nm, read the comments and it looks like everyone's already covered what I said, but better