Forums: January 2010 Kickstart Forum Archive: Iron Deficiency Anemia
Created on: 01/07/10 10:22 AM Views: 2696 Replies: 10
Hoover Joined: 01/03/10 Posts: 6	Iron Deficiency Anemia Posted Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 10:22 AM I could use some insight...I was told, for the first time in my life, that I have anemia. I've been a Vegan for almost 2 years now. The family MD told me to have a colonoscopy/endosocopy. The Gastroenterologist told me I have Iron Deficiency Anemia and I should eat meat or take Ferosol or get worse. QUESTION: What is the normal daily allowance one needs of Iron and what are the best vegan sources? I've seen so many charts on line and have come up with Spinach, Kale, Beans. Is there anything else? Thanks for responses. Hoover
	Edited 01/07/10 10:23 AM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
mommyof2nc Joined: 12/31/09 Location: North Carolina Posts: 172	RE: Iron Deficiency Anemia Posted Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 10:29 AM You don't have to eat meat! I had iron deficiency anemia with my last pregnancy and also when I was a pre-teen. My OB told me to eat lots of greens, beans, blackstrap molasses, dried fruit and pumpkin seeds. Also, make sure you have something with vitamin C in it along with whatever you're eating because the vitamin C helps your body absorb more iron. Also, check out the post titled "Iron" on this forum because I think there might be other suggestions on there. Good luck!
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veveveveggie Joined: 12/28/09 Posts: 114	RE: Iron Deficiency Anemia Posted Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 10:56 AM When I was perimenopausal I had iron deficient anemia. I took iron supplements. Here's the thing: my dr. had me take them for a few months then tested my blood. I tested okay so she had me stop taking them. Then I soon became anemic again. What the doctor did wrong was taking me off the supplement too soon. There is a storage component to this anemia that requires taking the supplement longer than what the blood test indicates. Because this wasn't considered, I spent 3 years anemic.
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txgirl Joined: 01/04/10 Location: Pasadena, TX Posts: 82	RE: Iron Deficiency Anemia Posted Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 11:12 AM All of the above posts sound like good, solid advice. I had to take an iron supplement when I was pregnant, and later in life I became borderline anemic. Since I was just borderline, I switched multi-vitamins and ate more broccoli and greens (because I used to eat none). I also avoided tea for a few years because I read somewhere that tannins interfere with iron absorption. Eventually, my levels did come back up but it took a while.
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mommyof2nc Joined: 12/31/09 Location: North Carolina Posts: 172	RE: Iron Deficiency Anemia Posted Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 11:39 AM Oh yeah, and caffeine can inhibit your body's ability to absorb iron, too so maybe try to watch your caffeine intake. (Easier said than done for me. LOL)
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Harmonicgogiberry Joined: 01/01/10 Posts: 47	RE: Iron Deficiency Anemia Posted Monday, January 11, 2010 at 8:05 AM Ya, I've been rejected from donating blood a couple of times because of low hematocrit (anemia). The iron supplements (Slow Fe or such) can be constipating, so I found myself not taking it daily. For a while I took a daily vegetarian multivitamin and that helped alot, but again I've gotten off track with taking it because the pills are huge and I have trouble swallowing them sometimes. Anyone know of a good vegetarian multi vitamin with iron that isn't huge/hard to swallow? Gelcaps would be ideal!
	Edited 01/11/10 8:10 AM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
veveveveggie Joined: 12/28/09 Posts: 114	RE: Iron Deficiency Anemia Posted Monday, January 11, 2010 at 10:11 AM I take a vegetarian chewable adult multi vitamin. It is a big tablet almost an inch in diameter. It tastes like pineapple, but I still need a little water to help swallow it while chewing it. I get this at the health food store; brand name Country Life. They are easier on the digestion than non-chewables. The iron is 28%. Jean
	Edited 01/11/10 10:12 AM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
shell1226 Joined: 01/14/10 Posts: 3	RE: Iron Deficiency Anemia Posted Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 10:10 AM I've had iron deficient anemia. My ferritin (indicates iron stores) was very, very low. I had to get iron infusions. Now, I take iron supplements and so far, everything is staying within normal ranges. Iron should be taken with vitamin C, but at least 2 hours away from any calcium or caffiene.
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Susan Levin Joined: 12/26/09 Posts: 1191	RE: Iron Deficiency Anemia Posted Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 10:59 AM May I suggest you type "iron" into the search function. This topic has been hashed out before, and people had some great input. Here's a version of what I have posted before: Remember Popeye? Spinach is a great iron source. So are beans, beets, and dried fruit. Investing in an iron skillet is a good way to go as well. Also remember to consume foods rich in vitamin C with your iron foods, i.e., spinach salad with orange slices, red peppers in your lentil stew, etc. Blackstrap molasses is a great iron source as well, with 20 percent of your daily recommendation in 1 tablespoon. I throw a little into my baking recipes or into stews/soups. Adult, menstruating women need 18mg of iron per day. You do not want to take more than that in a supplement unless a healthcare professional has told you that you are low and is monitoring the situation. Susan Levin, MS, RD PCRM Director of Nutrition Education
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goobygirl Joined: 12/31/09 Posts: 70	RE: Iron Deficiency Anemia Posted Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 1:28 PM Grapes help! Also re blood drives, this is not a good indicator since they want to you to be higher in iron than u need so that when u donate you dont fall below iron levels. I used to donate blood alot and would boost my iron by eating grapes for a while before donating. I suggest organic as grapes from other countries, where many are from, have very bad pesticides on them.
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rb Joined: 12/30/09 Posts: 85	RE: Iron Deficiency Anemia Posted Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 6:06 PM Also, some women (like myself) get anemic briefly with their cycles. You may not test positive but you will feel - and look - anemic once a month. Your body will then go to regular higher levels as your cycle continues (I'm trying to be tactful here, but you know what I mean). I have been tested numerous times and was never clear why I kept testing negative until a doctor explained it to me.
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