Food rich in iron and best exercise when anemic

mdmarniepharmacy
mdmarniepharmacy Posts: 7 Member
edited November 27 in Food and Nutrition
Hello! Newbie here! I was diagnosed with severe anemia recently and I wanted to know what are the food that are rich in iron that could help increase the level. And what are the preferred exercise that could help me stay fit and healthy. Btw, I just had blood transfusion also and taking iron supplement. Thank you!

Replies

  • WholeFoods4Lyfe
    WholeFoods4Lyfe Posts: 1,518 Member
    https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=Ng1aW-7YH-eHggfQ4oJQ&q=iron+rich+foods&oq=iron+rich+foods&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0j0i20i264k1l2j0l7.765.2859.0.3101.16.15.0.0.0.0.225.1315.11j1j1.13.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..3.13.1315.0..35i39k1j0i131k1j0i10k1.0.X6lkdGmV56c

    I also cook almost exclusively in Cast Iron pans.
  • mdmarniepharmacy
    mdmarniepharmacy Posts: 7 Member
    Thank you so much. Appreciate it.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited July 2018
    https://www.eatright.org/health/wellness/preventing-illness/iron-deficiency

    In regards to exercise, there is no "best"...the "best exercise" is the exercise you more or less enjoy and will stick to. As a matter of general fitness, you'd want to do some combination of cardiovascular exercise and resistance training.

    I personally cycle and lift weights and do a little hiking and rock climbing here and there.
  • AJB1014
    AJB1014 Posts: 1,380 Member
    I second the cooking in cast iron! Be careful of taking your iron supplement with coffee/tea (caffeine) and dairy too as this can reduce absorption. Vitamin C can aid in absorption.
  • mdmarniepharmacy
    mdmarniepharmacy Posts: 7 Member
    I easily get tired because of insufficient iron, not enough oxygen, usually I can only do 3 minutes the most, of easy exercises unlike before, I can endure a 45 mins core workout. Hopefully, once I recovered from this, I can do more. 😊
  • emmamcgarity
    emmamcgarity Posts: 1,594 Member
    I also struggle with iron. So, my multivitamin ends up being really important for me. But, I have noticed that the days I add breakfast cereal in my day are the days that iron gets a boost in my nutritional content from food sources.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    When my anemia isn't properly treated I have crippling fatigue.

    To stay in Low Normal, I eat 100% of the RDA, plus I supplement with 278%. So almost 400% to stay in Low Normal. Plus more when I'm menstruating, including Wellshire Liverwurst; 2 oz = 35% RDA iron.

    It's really important that I get my iron levels tested at least yearly, and more often if my levels fall into Anemic and am working to get them back up.

    Also, there are many forms of iron and the first few I tried did nothing to get my energy levels up. I am currently taking iron bisglycinate. This doesn't give me the constipation or upset stomach side effects that other forms of iron can cause.
  • mdmarniepharmacy
    mdmarniepharmacy Posts: 7 Member
    Thanks you for this information. Great help! Really, I’ve been struggling lately. I ignored the symptoms like fatigue and having shortness of breath. I was just thinking the reason was I am getting old. Not until I had my blood test done.
  • mutantspicy
    mutantspicy Posts: 624 Member
    Red Meat, some decent not meat sources that eat regularly kale, and cauliflower.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Look up the Lucky Iron Fish.

    Iron absorbs better along with vitamin C and Less well with dairy/Calcium.

    There are iron fortified cereals like raisin bran and bran buds.

    Red meats and liver are great meat sources.
  • Hamsibian
    Hamsibian Posts: 1,388 Member
    edited July 2018
    organ meat (you can easily hide chicken livers in meat loaf or meat balls with minimal taste) are the most iron rich foods. Meat, poultry, seafood (especially clams and oysters), eggs, beans, tofu, some nuts and seeds

    You'll want to also consume a decent amount of vitamin c to absorb the iron, so leafy greens, most vegetables and fruits.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,985 Member
    If you're anemic then eating food high in iron won't do much. Hey, I've been on high dose iron tablets and each time it took me at least 6 weeks with those to feel half normal again. Just a cast iron pan, or gentle iron don't do enough. So it's good you get infusions and tablets. More important though is finding out why, and if there are other deficiencies, which is not uncommon.
  • kitzykarly
    kitzykarly Posts: 32 Member
    I had to limit my iron due to kidney issues, and my nephrologist suggested I start taking a B complex vitamin for my anemia. I’m no longer anemic, but it wasn’t severe to begin with.
  • mdmarniepharmacy
    mdmarniepharmacy Posts: 7 Member
    yirara wrote: »
    If you're anemic then eating food high in iron won't do much. Hey, I've been on high dose iron tablets and each time it took me at least 6 weeks with those to feel half normal again. Just a cast iron pan, or gentle iron don't do enough. So it's good you get infusions and tablets. More important though is finding out why, and if there are other deficiencies, which is not uncommon.
    Thank for you’re input. 🙂 The reason I became anemic was I’ve been having irregular menstrual period. Like I have it 3 week long every month. And it was really heavy. I just ignored the symptoms because I was thinking it was pre menopausal.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Multigrain Cheerios has 100% RDA of iron. Slightly sweet, I like to munch on these (no milk) while driving to work.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I have anemia too, and my periods are making it way worse - I've been dizzy for 3 days now, having shortness of breath, and took an appointment with my GYN to ask for an endometrial ablation (he told me that it was an option last year), but it's not for another month. We tried the pill, but I was bleeding for 2 weeks instead of 2, even after 5 months of it, so it didn't help either.

    It doesn't help that I love coffee and dairy either. I'm seriously at a loss at this point on how to feel better - obviously it's been impossible to exercise in these conditions. I've been avoiding dairy the last couple days and taking supplements, but I'm honestly not too sure how much I should really take... I need to get bloodwork done soon again. Not sure either at which point I need to go to the doctor to see if I need a transfusion or something.

    I love liver actually but have yet to even see it in the stores.

    Anyway, I suggest you go see your GYN to figure out how to get your period under control.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,600 Member
    A tablespoon of blackstrap molasses has around 20% of the RDA. Since I like molasses, and like my oatmeal a tiny bit sweeter than just plain oats, that's a good addition, for me.
  • alpine1994
    alpine1994 Posts: 1,915 Member
    I hit 90% of my iron goal by eating just under 2 servings of Special K Fruit & Yogurt cereal today.
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