Anemia

AstonMartin

I was diagnosed as anemic when I was about 8 years old. I took supplements at the time.

My diet is bad and I drink caffine and booze with a couple of liters of milk a day which inhibit iron absortation.

I'm 27 now and anemic again.

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Symptoms of anemia

Often, no symptoms
Paleness
Feeling tired
Unusual shortness of breath during exercise
Unusual food cravings (known as pica)
Fast heartbeat
Cold hands and feet
Brittle nails or hair loss
Headaches
Dizziness or lightheadedness

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Liver would be the main source of iron but there are some things I'm not willing to eat.


The vast majority of the meat i eat is chicken which is not the highest in iron.



I will be eating more beef and turkey over the next while and will take a supplement (probably Ferrograd C).

Heinz beans is another daily part of my diet.

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What are common foods in the Irish diet that are high in iron and easy to cook?

Bottle_of_Smoke

AstonMartin wrote: »

I was diagnosed as anemic when I was about 8 years old. I took supplements at the time.

My diet is bad and I drink caffine and booze with a couple of liters of milk a day which inhibit iron absortation.

I'm 27 now and anemic again.

---

Symptoms of anemia

Often, no symptoms
Paleness
Feeling tired
Unusual shortness of breath during exercise
Unusual food cravings (known as pica)
Fast heartbeat
Cold hands and feet
Brittle nails or hair loss
Headaches
Dizziness or lightheadedness

---

Liver would be the main source of iron but there are some things I'm not willing to eat.


The vast majority of the meat i eat is chicken which is not the highest in iron.



I will be eating more beef and turkey over the next while and will take a supplement (probably Ferrograd C).

Heinz beans is another daily part of my diet.

---

What are common foods in the Irish diet that are high in iron and easy to cook?

Beef probably the best. The iron in plant sources isn't as good because you don't absorb it to the same extent.

Make sure your vitamin C intake is good too - that aids the absorption of Iron

Ice.

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

The iron in plant sources isn't as good because you don't absorb it to the same extent.

This is only partly true. Plant iron is every bit as good as iron from animal sources. The reason the body has trouble absorbing it is because of the negative charge in the plant iron molecule. However if you consume a reducing agent with your plant iron ( such as Vitamin C ) that changes the electrical charge of the plant iron and your body absorbs as much as it likes.

EileenG

I strongly suggest you go back to your doctor and get your iron levels checked before you stat self-diagnosing. If you need it, get a suitable supplement on prescription and get your iron levels monitored.

Liver and beef are good sources, but many breakfast cereals have added iron. I normally warn people away from Special K because it has so much added iron, but it might be useful in your case.

We have a high prevalence of Haemochromatosis caused by iron overload, in this country.
Symptoms include weakness and fatigue similar to anemia.
It can seriously damage your organs, lead to diabetes and even prove fatal if left untreated.
Don't supplement iron, without getting a proper diagnose from a doctor.

Cigarettes and excess alcohol actually promote iron absorption.

AstonMartin

I have had a bad diet for a long time and wasnt taking a multi vitamin. There is no chance i was consuming too much iron. dehydration is playing a part in the fatigue also i think.

EileenG

It's surprisingly easy to overload on iron. Most breakfast cereals have added iron, and the standard portion size (30-40g) is a joke. Most people eat two or three times that. If you are eating cereal more than once a day, you can very easily go way over your RDA without having a clue.

And men do not have an easy mechanism for excreting excess iron the way women do.

lolli

Wow I didnt realise cereal was so high in Iron. I must start eating it. My iron level was only 6 last time I got it checked and I find iron supplements hard to take.

Bottle_of_Smoke

Moonbaby wrote: »

We have a high prevalence of Haemochromatosis caused by iron overload, in this country.
Symptoms include weakness and fatigue similar to anemia.
It can seriously damage your organs, lead to diabetes and even prove fatal if left untreated.
Don't supplement iron, without getting a proper diagnose from a doctor.

Cigarettes and excess alcohol actually promote iron absorption.

That's true(have it myself) but not relevant to the OP. He/She previously had anemia which would be some feat if you had haemochromatosis