Hello Anemia, my old friend...

[Treasure]

Check w/ your Dr - its possible that you may be allergic to Iron;
My mom is - She can only eat about 3-4 bites of broccoli before she has to push it away, she can't take multi-vitamins w/ iron in it, and when she was given an Iron injection (30 yrs ago - after giving birth) B A D things happened - the Dr's said "lets not ever do that again - ever" even prior to the shot (IIRC) her grandmother would make liver and onions - and mom would be salivating as she walked in the door, take 3 bites, and run for the toilet - its coming back up

again, Check with your Dr - explain to them all your dietary habits - eat A, B, & C, and still anemic - WTF over? even if not allergic, Dr should be able to either suggest things for you, or refer you to a nutritionist who can help.

[Magpie]

Do you eat pork? It's nutritionally red meat. I second the beans and lentils suggestions. Also, have you talked to your doctor about your problem with supplements? I had one offer to get me a prescription, there's apparently one that's not pseudo-OTC that is easier on the stomach (not sure if that's what you tried). And, again, not sure if it's what you tried, but have you tried taking a prenatal iron supplement? My mom's on them, and my doctor recommended them to me as less irritating.

Another option - my BC pills made me throw up if I wasn't careful. This meant that I could take an iron supplement, but only when I wasn't taking my pills. Have you tried taking the placeholder pills? You say they're iron, and if you have trouble like mine, they might be ok.

[lupo pazzesco]

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

Cutenoob

I've never really been a fan of beef, not even growing up. It always gave me stomach problems. When I moved away from home and started cooking for myself, I just stopped buying it or eating it. Proteins in my diet come largely from poultry and seafood.

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

Rapscallion

Didn't think of that. Not really a pork fan, per se, but never really actively tried to incorporate it into my diet, either, so, I don't know.

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

LOVE HUMMUS!!!

that is all...

Also, have you talked to your doctor about your problem with supplements?

Another option - my BC pills made me throw up if I wasn't careful. This meant that I could take an iron supplement, but only when I wasn't taking my pills. Have you tried taking the placeholder pills? You say they're iron, and if you have trouble like mine, they might be ok.

Tried the prescription route for supplements, they made me just as sick, and I've tried various versions of OTC supplements. Didn't try prenatal, though. As for the BC placeholders, I stopped taking them after the first few months because they felt like I was taking a supplement. Same symptoms all over. Yuck.

I'm going to see about getting a doctor's appointment in the coming weeks. Until then, I'm going to stock up on iron rich foods and try to donate again next week, see if this is just an anomalous occurrence.

[Whiskey]

LOVE HUMMUS!!!

Chickpeas have 6x the iron of veggies. Make homemade hummus (i can get you a recipe if you want). Eat it all. I've even found a recipe where hummus was the mayo for potato salad. I've never tried it though.

[lupo pazzesco]

I already make my own.

I just haven't in a while. Ran out of tahini...

[Whiskey]

hummus

tahini...

gimme your recipes.

[lupo pazzesco]

o.0 erm...okies...I've got a few, though.

Basic Hummus with tahini
2 cups canned garbanzo beans, drained
1/3 cup tahini
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
2 cloves garlic, halved
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pinch paprika
1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley


Blend beans, tahini, juice, salt and garlic in food processor until smooth. Scoop into bowl or serving dish. drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with parsley and paprika. Eat. YUM!

Variations on a theme!


Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
2 cups canned garbanzo beans, drained
1/3 cup tahini
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
2 cloves garlic, halved
1/2 cup roasted red peppers
1/4 tsp dried basil

As before, toss everything in a food processor and whirl until smooth. Season with salt and pepper if desired (doesn't need it!!!) and serve. This one tastes better if you let it sit in the fridge overnight.


Spinach and Feta Hummus
2 cups canned garbanzo beans, drained
1/3 cup tahini
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup fresh spinach
3 oz crumbled feta cheese
1 tsp red pepper flakes
2 cloves garlic, halved

Throw everything but the feta and pepper flakes in a food processor and blend until smooth. Then add feta and pepper flakes. Blend again until smooth. Chill. Eat.




Those are just the quick ones I could find. Somewhere I've got a roasted eggplant hummus recipe that's a bit more time and labor intensive. And I can't find my black olive hummus recipe OR my spinach artichoke hummus recipe, OR my sun dried tomato hummus recipe!! Curses!!!


Erm...yeah, as mentioned, I lurves hummus. Just haven't made it in a while.

[Rapscallion]

Didn't think of that. Not really a pork fan, per se, but never really actively tried to incorporate it into my diet, either, so, I don't know.

Lean strips in a stir fry - cover it in whatever sauce you want and it will taste of ... that sauce, more or less.

Rapscallion

[telecom_goddess]

Oh these recipies look yummy for the hummus.....nom nom nom ...I'm going to try them now thanks

[lupo pazzesco]

Lean strips in a stir fry - cover it in whatever sauce you want and it will taste of ... that sauce, more or less.

Rapscallion

I do like making stir fry. My poor wok gets used regularly.

question, though. What cut of pork is best for a stir fry? I know virtually nothing about pork or beef. Like I said, I prefer poultry or seafood as my meats.




And you're welcome, telecomgoddess, hope you enjoy!!! Once I find my other hummus recipes, I'll post them, too.

[AdminAssistant]

I'm no pork expert, but lean boneless pork chops wouldn't be bad. Of course, my usual method of cooking pork involves cooking boneless ribs in bbq sauce....so good!

[Eric the Grey]

o.0 erm...okies...I've got a few, though.

<. . . Recipes snipped and placed into recipe file. . .>

Sounds awesome! I love hummus as well.

Anyway, I have a hereditary blood trait called Thalassemia, in it's mildest form. While I do not need the regular blood transfusions, I do not absorb Iron like most, and the Doctors actually find it spilling if they test for it.

The only way to keep my iron levels up is for me to take Folic Acid (B9?). Somehow this aids the absorption of the iron into my blood. It may help you as well.

Of course, seeing a Doctor like others have said would be wise in order to determine why you're levels are so low (unless you've already had this diagnosed...)



Eric the Grey

[Kheldarson]

I've got mild anemia myself and a dislike for leafy greens. I've found that exercise and lots of sunlight help me. And I take an iron supplement, Tandem. I know you've taken a lot of different pills though, so that may not work for you. Do you like fish? Meat of any form can help from my understanding.

[Rapscallion]

question, though. What cut of pork is best for a stir fry? I know virtually nothing about pork or beef. Like I said, I prefer poultry or seafood as my meats.

Admin Assistant is spot on about boneless pork chops. Not sure, but that probably covers what I know as pork steak. Anything from around the top end of the pork leg would be great, quite frankly.

Rapscallion

[Magpie]

Stir fry meat is like stewing meat. The correct meat is the cheapest you can get. When you cut it, make sure to cut across the grain - if it's tough you won't notice anymore, because you're cutting it so thin. Marinade it for 20 minutes as you chop everything else and it'll be fine (I'm assuming you have multiple cutting boards/knives, and I do understand that it's a pain to do meat and then something else).