Options for raising iron levels?

05-10-2005, 06:33 AM

I fear I'm anemic, and aunt flo is back and very heavy yesterday, last night and maybe today (I'm using a diva cup and filling it up every 2-3 hrs). I don't have access to good health/natural food stores, so what can I do to raise my iron levels? I am kicking myself for not picking up some kind of iron supplement that's supposed to be easy to absorb yesterday, but the place I was at seemed expensive (they wanted about $17 for the stuff).

memory maker · 05-10-2005, 11:06 AM

Cream of wheat and malt-O meal both have very high iron (like 50% RDA) If you eat high iron foods with vitamin C foods it helps absorb the iron better. On the other hand calcium makes it not absorb

2sunshines · 05-10-2005, 11:19 AM

Do a search online for foods that are rich in iron. I can't think of them all off hand.

When I was pregnant and post partum with my kids, I was anemic and they wanted me to take an iron supplement. I decided to try to raise it naturally with food and they were surprised

that I was able to do it without a pill. Anyway, I remember I ate cereal that was high in iron (read the nutrition info on the sides).

I also agree with the above poster in that you need to make sure to eat vitamin c because it enables your body to better absorb the iron that you are eating in your foods.

05-10-2005, 12:25 PM

I didn't know that about vit. c. Ester c? I think I may have some. I need to go look.

05-10-2005, 12:36 PM

But be careful of how much fruit you eat, also. Certain fruits can bind to the iron and flush it out (generally fruits that are not so high in vit. C -- you can usually tell by how fast they oxidize, like apples).

sadie · 05-10-2005, 04:16 PM

Spinach salad with tomatoes

Stewed lentils and apricots (sounds gross but it's really yummy!

)

And I second the iron-rich cereal. Also, I drink V8 with whatever I'm eating, especially iron rich foods, to boost my intake.

cobluegirl · 05-10-2005, 04:22 PM

pm purplebutterfly about this...she knows lots..she had to deal with it in Nemo.

05-10-2005, 04:53 PM

Iron is usually bound in and not as absorbable out of vegetable sources. Vit. C does help. The fastest, best, easiest absorbed iron would be in beef. This is a problem if you don't eat meat, or if your digestive system is compromised somehow.

05-10-2005, 05:14 PM

iron skillet. i haven't had any problem since switching.

cobluegirl · 05-10-2005, 11:16 PM

oh yeah....sulphered molasses is rich in iron.

05-11-2005, 06:50 AM

I remembered about the molasses. I'm having cereal and molasses for breakfast

peacefulveganmom · 05-14-2005, 12:52 AM

Blackstrap molasses

05-10-2005, 06:33 AM	#1
This Busy Mom Guest Posts: n/a	Options for raising iron levels? I fear I'm anemic, and aunt flo is back and very heavy yesterday, last night and maybe today (I'm using a diva cup and filling it up every 2-3 hrs). I don't have access to good health/natural food stores, so what can I do to raise my iron levels? I am kicking myself for not picking up some kind of iron supplement that's supposed to be easy to absorb yesterday, but the place I was at seemed expensive (they wanted about $17 for the stuff).

05-10-2005, 11:06 AM	#2
memory maker Banned Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 247	Re: Options for raising iron levels? Cream of wheat and malt-O meal both have very high iron (like 50% RDA) If you eat high iron foods with vitamin C foods it helps absorb the iron better. On the other hand calcium makes it not absorb

05-10-2005, 11:19 AM	#3
2sunshines Moderator in Celebrations, Cloth Diapering & EC, Empty Arms, Prayer & Praise, and Swap n' Shop Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 27,028	Re: Options for raising iron levels? Do a search online for foods that are rich in iron. I can't think of them all off hand. When I was pregnant and post partum with my kids, I was anemic and they wanted me to take an iron supplement. I decided to try to raise it naturally with food and they were surprised that I was able to do it without a pill. Anyway, I remember I ate cereal that was high in iron (read the nutrition info on the sides). I also agree with the above poster in that you need to make sure to eat vitamin c because it enables your body to better absorb the iron that you are eating in your foods. __________________ married 25 years mom to two young adults (23 and 20) and two teens (17 and 15)

05-10-2005, 12:25 PM	#4
This Busy Mom Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Options for raising iron levels? I didn't know that about vit. c. Ester c? I think I may have some. I need to go look.

05-10-2005, 12:36 PM	#5
Chris3jam Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Options for raising iron levels? But be careful of how much fruit you eat, also. Certain fruits can bind to the iron and flush it out (generally fruits that are not so high in vit. C -- you can usually tell by how fast they oxidize, like apples).

05-10-2005, 04:16 PM	#6
sadie Deactivated Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,501	Re: Options for raising iron levels? Spinach salad with tomatoes Stewed lentils and apricots (sounds gross but it's really yummy! ) And I second the iron-rich cereal. Also, I drink V8 with whatever I'm eating, especially iron rich foods, to boost my intake.

05-10-2005, 04:22 PM	#7
cobluegirl Rose Garden never be afraid of who you were meant to be Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 43,819	Re: Options for raising iron levels? pm purplebutterfly about this...she knows lots..she had to deal with it in Nemo. __________________ T4/1 ISTJ Enneagram 9 Ds-T4/2 Dd1-T1/4 Dd2-T2/1 The greatest challenge for most of us is believing that we are worthy now, right this minute. Worthiness doesn't have prerequisites. ~Brene Brown "The Gifts of Imperfection"[/CENTER]

05-10-2005, 04:53 PM	#8
Chris3jam Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Options for raising iron levels? Iron is usually bound in and not as absorbable out of vegetable sources. Vit. C does help. The fastest, best, easiest absorbed iron would be in beef. This is a problem if you don't eat meat, or if your digestive system is compromised somehow.

05-10-2005, 05:14 PM	#9
salt_light Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Options for raising iron levels? iron skillet. i haven't had any problem since switching.

05-10-2005, 11:16 PM	#10
cobluegirl Rose Garden never be afraid of who you were meant to be Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 43,819	Re: Options for raising iron levels? oh yeah....sulphered molasses is rich in iron. __________________ T4/1 ISTJ Enneagram 9 Ds-T4/2 Dd1-T1/4 Dd2-T2/1 The greatest challenge for most of us is believing that we are worthy now, right this minute. Worthiness doesn't have prerequisites. ~Brene Brown "The Gifts of Imperfection"[/CENTER]

05-11-2005, 06:50 AM	#11
This Busy Mom Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Options for raising iron levels? I remembered about the molasses. I'm having cereal and molasses for breakfast

05-14-2005, 12:52 AM	#12
peacefulveganmom Deactivated Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,621	Re: Options for raising iron levels? Blackstrap molasses

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