Hello Anemia, my old friend...

[lupo pazzesco]

so, I went to donate blood today, and found out my iron is way way WAY lower than it should be (We're talking barely bumping 30%!!)

Now, I've dealt with anemia chronically for most of my life, and managed to get it in check in the last few years. Thing is, I'm surprised it's THIS low. So were the donation center people. They were also sad, too. I'm O-. I was pretty much ordered to go slaughter a cow and eat it because they wants my blood!!

So, I need to get my iron up, but a few problems plague me with that.

1. I don't eat red meat. Ever. It does not digest well for me at all, and leaves me with many many unhappy stomach plaints. Ick. Enough details there.

2. Iron supplements make me physically ill. I've tried various forms. Even one called Gentle Iron (about as gentle as a sledgehammer in the intestines for me!)


Now, I DO take a multi with iron in it, and that doesn't cause too many problems. I took it this morning but, yeah. 30% WTF?

so...any suggestions on how to get more iron in my diet that ISN'T red meat? I eat spinach daily, and other leafy greens, but apparently that's not cutting it anymore. Halp? Please? Anyone else have this issue that can share a few tips or hints?

Thank you thank you!

[daleduke17]

Wow...that's not good.

Here's a link from the CDC for dietary sources of iron:
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutr...index.htm#Iron Sources

That's better than finding a car from 1955 and eating parts off the body.

[Dave1982]

Honestly I think you should consult your doctor first, if you haven't already. They probably know ways to do this for people who can't eat red meat and can't tolerate iron supplements.

Now, aside from that, I just googled "vegetarian iron sources" and all sorts of possibilities came up. One of which was that iron absorption is markedly increased when you eat foods high in vitamin C at the same time as foods rich in iron.

http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/iron.htm

Interestingly, blackstrap molasses is on the list.....I wonder if that means the blackstrap rum I have is also high in iron.......

[MaggieTheCat]

A lot of cereal and other grains have iron in them. Total, for example, has 100% your daily value of iron (based on the average, 2000 calorie diet.) Beans are pretty high in iron too, as is blackstrap molasses, as Dave mentioned (I think 1 tablespoon has something like 20% of your daily value. Try it on hot cereal or spread it on toast!)

[trailerparkmedic]

How heavy are your periods? When I'm not on birth control my periods are crazy heavy and I get anemic because of the blood loss. When I'm on birth control, even with eating red meat once a week or so, I have enough iron to do double red blood cell donation.

[lupo pazzesco]

Thanks for the links, guys! I have some edamame in my freezer, might pull them out and munch on them for snacks during the week. I eat spinach raw, though, and the lists say cooked. Is there that much of a nutritional difference? I also have some black beans in the freezer, might pull those out and do something with them. Black beans and rice. Yum.

trailerparkmedic: I'm on BC because my periods are crazy crazy, and extremely heavy besides (one dr. thought I was having a miscarriage when I went in for a physical while on my period. That was fun trying to explain...Sorry for the grossness, gentlemen!). I don't take the placebo week pills though because they're almost pure iron and, well, yeah, iron supplements make me sick.

dalesys & Dave: Did not know that vitamin C aided in absorbing iron from non meat sources. thanks for the links!

ETA: I spoke with the people at the donation center, and they suggested fish in place of beef, but it looks like, from the lists provided, only clams seem to be super high in iron. Go figure. I wonder if I can find some clam strips somewhere and have a seafood night. Hmmm..

[jedimaster91]

Have you tried those protein shakes they sell at places like GNC? Mr Jedi used those for awhile when he was selling plasma along with spinach and chili beans.

[lupo pazzesco]

I have protein powder. Made my own protein shakes while working out. Should get back into that, both working out and making protein shakes. Chili beans? I like chili. Haven't had any in a while. Breaking out the crockpot soon, methinks!! Turkey and black bean chili maybe?

[KiaKat]

When I was at my lowest iron levels, the doc actually did an intramuscular injection. They can also do IV drips, though I do my best to avoid anything involving something UNDER MY SKIN (shudder) for any extended period of time.

I don't tolerate the iron pills either, even if I waited the recommended half hour after eating. I do a children's chewable multivitamin with iron now, and it's enough to keep my levels stable.

You need vitamins C and D in order to absorb any elements. This includes calcium and iron. Sometimes you can find them paired together.

[telecom_goddess]

Lupo I have the same issue. In fact I just found out today that I'm anemic AGAIN. I eat red meat, raw spinach, take vitamin supplements including calcium and vitamin D, and eat cereal like mini wheats which has a lot of iron in it. WTF???? How can my levels be low? Oh and my Vitamin D is low too . I also don't tolerate iron pills well they just make me sick.

I don't know what to do either

[Whiskey]

I have protein powder. Made my own protein shakes while working out. Should get back into that, both working out and making protein shakes. Chili beans? I like chili. Haven't had any in a while. Breaking out the crockpot soon, methinks!! Turkey and black bean chili maybe?

Check out my crockpot thread for recipies. I made White chicken chili and it was pretty good. Add tomatoes if you generally like them in chili.

[Der Cute]

When I was preggers, my iron was low. Iron also takes a HELL of a time to replenish.

I took iron supplements, but you've said you cant. So...dark veggies. Spinach, kale, broccoli...toss some red peppers and green peppers, you get iron and vitamin c.

You can't eat red meat at all? Even really thin cuts of beef? Stir fry?

Cutenoob

[Whiskey]

You can't eat red meat at all? Even really thin cuts of beef? Stir fry?

Cutenoob

If you don't eat red meat for a long time, eating it will wreck havoc on your body (even tiny amounts) because it temporarily "forgets" how to digest it. (s)he might have digestive issues, or be a veggie. I have guts of steel, so I can eat everything. I dually recommend broccoli. Looooooots of iron.

Are there iron shots? I know people get b12 for health, but maybe some kind of doc-shot?

[Rapscallion]

Are you able to digest pork? It's not quite red, but definitely not white.

Rapscallion

[Whiskey]

Chickpeas are good iron too. Eat you some hummus (its delicious!)!

http://www.vegsoc.org/info/iron.html#diet

vegetarian food may actually work against you. Some components of vegetarian staples can actually hinder the absorption of nonheme iron. For example, a substance called phytate, found in whole grains and legumes, can limit iron absorption. Even soy, which is a good vegetarian source of iron, contains phytate and certain proteins that interfere with iron absorption. Other foods that obstruct iron absorption include coffee, tea (including some herbal teas), cocoa, calcium, fiber and some spices.

Choose excellent sources of iron. Here are some foods that are "excellent" sources of iron: • Egg yolks • Molasses • Raisin bran (If you eat fish, try sardines.)

Choose "good" sources of iron. Here are some foods that are good sources of iron:• Raisins • Prunes • Dried apricots • Figs • Kidney beans • Pinto beans • Navy beans • Lentils • Split green peas • Enriched cereals • Enriched macaroni • Spinach • Greens • Broccoli • Lima beans • Avocado


Do things that enhance the iron in your diet. Cooking in a cast iron pan, for example, can add trace amounts of iron to your food. Also, eating the following foods can help your body absorb iron better: Fruits: Orange, Orange Juice, cantaloupe, strawberries, grapefruit.Vegetables: Broccoli, brussels sprouts, tomato, tomato juice, potato, green & red peppers. White wine is also a good source of iron.

I have one pan. It is cast iron. It is all I need. Cast iron pan joke time!

Q. What can a cast iron pan do that a normal pan can't?
A: Kill!