Low in iron

[theatregirl]

I've been told today from blood test results that I am low in iron. Does anyone else suffer from this and what do you eat or do to improve your iron count?

[cftwo]

I don't share your problem, but this is generally one of those things where omnis start making noise about how you need red meat. The Vegetarian Resource Group has a nice summary of information on Iron http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/iron.htm. If your doctor didn't prescribe (sp?) iron supplements, you might see if your multivitamin includes iron or not - or look for one that does.

[Groovy chick]

Try eating iron rich foods including chickpeas, spinach, muesli, figs, apricots, brown rice and wholemeal bread.

Alternatively, take a supplement containing iron.

[piratemoon]

Dried fruits are good for iron, and you might want to try fortified vitamin cereals, or yeast extracts.

pirate x

[piratemoon]

Oh, and leafy greeny type things and broccoli!

[Lothar M Kirsch]

I've been told today from blood test results that I am low in iron. Does anyone else suffer from this and what do you eat or do to improve your iron count?
Check if your GP has only done an iron count or also ferritin.

[rabid_child]

I was anemic last year after I had an appendectomy and subsequent massive abdominal infection which caused my body to stop producing red blood cells because it was trying to die.

I just took a normal multivitamin every day and the problem resolved itself. That is the only time in 12 years of vegetarianism that I've been anemic, and my vitamin use has always been sporadic at best. I do eat a varied diet including lots of oatmeal and many green vegetables.

[misspickle]

I was told I had low iron this summer, and immediately panicked and started taking a supplement - I've weaned myself off it after simply becoming more aware of what foods contain alot of iron.
I eat fortified oatmeal, molasses, Ezekiel sprouted grain bread, leafy greens, raisins, and fortified soymilk as much as possible (at least a few of these a day).

[starseed13]

No Ive never been low in iron, except for one point where I had my period for like three months. I eat very healthfully. What do you eat?

[helenx0x0]

Eat watercress! Plenty of iron in that!!

[HandcuffedAngel]

I'm anemic and I take a multivitamin twice a day to help with the problem.

[rawgirl]

I used to have low hemoglobin and hematocrit, but I raised them to normal by drinking wheatgrass juice, green juices, and eating lots of sprouts and green leafy vegetables. I also raised my iron by eleven points in a matter of a few months.

[Thalia]

I've never had a problem with it, and I don't even eat many of the high iron foods mentioned. I do, however, cook with iron cookware.

[epski]

Keep in mind that calcium competes with iron for absorption, and that consuming vitamin C with iron helps dramatically increase absorption of plant-based non-heme iron.

And, don't forget, iron deficiency occurs with alarming frequency among omnivorous eaters, too! (though typically women more than men, I as I understand it)

[murry]

i'm anemic and multivitamins seem to do the job.

i think i've always been somewhat anemic, with intolerence to cold. but since going vegan it has become unbearable. well, it is bearable since i take the precautions. on a typical day i wear five layers of shirts, plus my scarf, i can't wait for spring!!

[Lothar M Kirsch]

Theatregirl: did you check for your ferritin count? It's important. Though epski is right about a high frequency among woman, who suffer from low iron, treating a low serum iron count instead of iron deficiency, may promote free radicals.
Today I saw a 45y old woman of Spanish decent, who smokes and has been treated with iron since her 17th birthday. Smoking and iron substitution promote the development of free radicals. And this may have accelerated the pace in which she developed osteoarthritis of small joints.

[gaya]

Lothar, smoking also decreases Vit. C. How come it's so abscent in the literature and seemingly in practice? I read three articles in the past couple of days and gave a presentation on iron deficiency in infants today and C is rarely noted.

[epski]

Note to self: I need to remember to gather together all the smart, cool Bostonians together for contact when/if I move to Boston...

[Lothar M Kirsch]

Yes, gaya, smoking decreases Vitamin C as it uses up antioxydant capacity (I think superoxyddismutasis, Ggutathionperoxydasis are part of the system that regulates antioxydation). So smoking and iron promote the same action: damage through free radicals. In rheumatology we encounter both the problem of people needing iron, because they lost it while bleeding from ulecera, and people people being treted needlessly. Interesting is the activation of the NF-κB-signal-pathway.
That's why I stress that theatergirl gets her ferritin count.

[gaya]

Note to self: I need to remember to gather together all the smart, cool Bostonians together for contact when/if I move to Boston...
I don't know if you've ever spent any time here but it's such a great city...well, Cambridge really. MIT alone generates some real funky, smart people. You'll love it. Come! Come!

[gaya]

Yes, gaya, smoking decreases Vitamin C as it uses up antioxydant capacity (I think superoxyddismutasis, Ggutathionperoxydasis are part of the system that regulates antioxydation).
ohhh, i've never heard of those terms!


So smoking and iron promote the same action: damage through free radicals. In rheumatology we encounter both the problem of people needing iron, because they lost it while bleeding from ulecera, and people people being treted needlessly. Interesting is the activation of the NF-κB-signal-pathway.
That's why I stress that theatergirl gets her ferritin count.
That's interesting. I don't know didly about rheumatology. I'd be interested in learning a bit if you ever felt like giving a short...long lol write-up.

[Lothar M Kirsch]

Perhaps we'll start a thread about free radicals, otherwise we'd go off topic on this thread.