Iron Deficiency - Please Help
- Thread starter jillybean
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ebh87
Guest
A lot of cereal is fortified with exra iron. When you eat something with iron, try to eat it with a vitamin C source - it helps to absorb the iron.
Erica
Erica
Hi! The management of iron deficiency depends on the etiology of the deficiency and the severity of it. Also how you can tolerate oral iron preps. So if the reason of your iron deficiency is indeed dietary, then the supplementation should correct the problem, and if the deficiency is due to blood loss or malabsorption then you need to be accurately diagnosed and the primary cause should be effectively controlled.
Make sure you don't overdose on iron supplement to cause toxicity. I think the best way to know your iron requirement should be under your physician's supervision.
After you know your requirement, you may also consider cooking your food in iron cast pans.
Hope this helps!
Bita
Make sure you don't overdose on iron supplement to cause toxicity. I think the best way to know your iron requirement should be under your physician's supervision.
After you know your requirement, you may also consider cooking your food in iron cast pans.
Hope this helps!
Bita
cataddict
Cathlete
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Aug-30-02 AT 12:30PM (Est)[/font][p]I don't claim to be a nutrition expert, but I have read that there are plant sources of iron but it is in a form that is more difficult for us to absorb. The "solution" is to eat it with a citrus source that will supposedly aid in the absorption process, sooooo...I eat a spinach salad with mandarin oranges. I think maybe bok choy has iron in it as well & could be combined with citrus? Maybe someone with more nutritional education than I have can comment on this?
Leslie
Leslie
Hi,
It is true that the treatment of iron depends on the cause.
Iron supplementation should not be tried without doctor supervison. At any rate, your first step is to make sure that you are getting enough iron in your diet. Vitamin C does indeed help in the absorption of iron and make it more available to your body. Red meat is not the only animal source of iron. Turkey and egg yolks are iron rich. Dried beans, and greens such as spinach are also rich in iron, but it is true that they are less available to the body. this is where food items high in vitamin c come in handy. Also, remember that calcium blocks the absorptionof iron so even though cereals may be iron fortified, they are often eaten with milk.
hope this helps.
It is true that the treatment of iron depends on the cause.
Iron supplementation should not be tried without doctor supervison. At any rate, your first step is to make sure that you are getting enough iron in your diet. Vitamin C does indeed help in the absorption of iron and make it more available to your body. Red meat is not the only animal source of iron. Turkey and egg yolks are iron rich. Dried beans, and greens such as spinach are also rich in iron, but it is true that they are less available to the body. this is where food items high in vitamin c come in handy. Also, remember that calcium blocks the absorptionof iron so even though cereals may be iron fortified, they are often eaten with milk.
hope this helps.
D
Debra
Guest
Three oz of clams provide 25 mg of iron. I would suspect other shellfish would also be good sources.
Add tofu, potatoes & dried fruits to the list.
Add tofu, potatoes & dried fruits to the list.
mogambo
Cathlete
Prune juice has a decent amount, as do raisins and prunes. All beans have iron. Cooking in iron pans as someone said. And spirulina has some. Beets. Greens of all sorts. Whole grains have some too. So, if you're eating clean, you get a good amount in your diet.
I take an 18 mg tablet of iron with a 500 mg of vitamin C between meals a few times a week to be sure.
I take an 18 mg tablet of iron with a 500 mg of vitamin C between meals a few times a week to be sure.
Jillybean
I take Iron supplements due to the fact that I am slightly anaemic and constantly tired so here is my 2cents worth hope you read it. I agree you should consult your doctor first as he will now your medical history and range of foods and supplements available and if this right for you.
Iron in supplement form is often very hard to absorb if you do need to supplement as you are not getting enough through food, you will need to experiement as they can make you ill.
The first time I had an iron supplement I took the tablet in the morning within half an hour I felt dreadful ten minutes later I was sick after bringing up the tablet I was fine.
I recommend should try fortified cereals dark green veg if you do end up taking iron tablets I recommend that you increase your fibre intake also experiment if you feel ill or any side affects stop taking the supplements immediately and contact your doctor.
Babs :-jumpy (just watching jumpy makes me feel as if I'm having a mini workout)
Babs
I take Iron supplements due to the fact that I am slightly anaemic and constantly tired so here is my 2cents worth hope you read it. I agree you should consult your doctor first as he will now your medical history and range of foods and supplements available and if this right for you.
Iron in supplement form is often very hard to absorb if you do need to supplement as you are not getting enough through food, you will need to experiement as they can make you ill.
The first time I had an iron supplement I took the tablet in the morning within half an hour I felt dreadful ten minutes later I was sick after bringing up the tablet I was fine.
I recommend should try fortified cereals dark green veg if you do end up taking iron tablets I recommend that you increase your fibre intake also experiment if you feel ill or any side affects stop taking the supplements immediately and contact your doctor.
Babs :-jumpy (just watching jumpy makes me feel as if I'm having a mini workout)
Babs
mom23dolls
Cathlete
I have a very serious iron deficiency due to some health problems, and have dealt with this since childhood. I've pretty much tried everything over the years and the one thing that worked best for me was Ferrous Gluconate. I take it three times a day and it is the only supplement that hasn't caused me stomach upset.
Carole
Carole
Again, depending on severity of your iron deficiency, you need certain amount of iron. That's why it is so important to take the iron under your physician's supervision.
To give you an example, the iron content of a Ferrous sulfate tablet is 65 mg, whereas the iron content of Ferrous gluconate is 39 mg, there are other preps that have more dosage of iron for the more severe cases of this deficiency.
In the market there are a number of other compoundings of iron sold. Some have "absorption-enhancing" substances such as ascorbic acid and amino acid. There are some that are advertised as delayed-release, to prolong the iron absorption over several hours.
One point to consider is that to cause the tablet to be more absorptive, tend to increase the gastrointestinal side effects.
So, what I suggest is to find out how much iron you need and accordingly provide your body with the correct amount.
To give you an example, the iron content of a Ferrous sulfate tablet is 65 mg, whereas the iron content of Ferrous gluconate is 39 mg, there are other preps that have more dosage of iron for the more severe cases of this deficiency.
In the market there are a number of other compoundings of iron sold. Some have "absorption-enhancing" substances such as ascorbic acid and amino acid. There are some that are advertised as delayed-release, to prolong the iron absorption over several hours.
One point to consider is that to cause the tablet to be more absorptive, tend to increase the gastrointestinal side effects.
So, what I suggest is to find out how much iron you need and accordingly provide your body with the correct amount.
mom23dolls
Cathlete
BFJ is absolutely right. I see my doctor every three months to have blood work done to ensure that my dosage and diet are correct. It's taken years to come to this point, including hospitalizations. Iron deficiency is no joke. You should definitely see your doctor and find out what options are best for you. Good luck!
Carole
Carole
Hi Jillybean
I take ferrous sulphate which is sugar coated one a day you will need to add extra fibre. I tried various supplements and kept getting constipated. But I do find that if I stop taking iron tablets I get way way tired and find I am falling asleep the evening.
Like I say spinach is very good for iron, like I everyone else has said it may take some experiementing to find the right dosage for you so do check with your doctor, I also stopped using added salt on my food.
As Cathe would say "this is just a suggestion, find out what is right for you".
Wishing you well.
Babs
I take ferrous sulphate which is sugar coated one a day you will need to add extra fibre. I tried various supplements and kept getting constipated. But I do find that if I stop taking iron tablets I get way way tired and find I am falling asleep the evening.
Like I say spinach is very good for iron, like I everyone else has said it may take some experiementing to find the right dosage for you so do check with your doctor, I also stopped using added salt on my food.
As Cathe would say "this is just a suggestion, find out what is right for you".
Wishing you well.
Babs