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iron rich foods

lookame3639lookame3639 member
in August 2014 Moms
So at my appointment yest i was told i am at transfusion levels with my iron and i need to suppliments 3 times a day. The issues with the iron suppliments is when I take them it makes the crohns disease act up really bad - gives me really bad stomach aches, turns my stools black and causes me to have a lot of diarrhea. I still plan to suppliments a little but I can't do three pills a day without getting really sick so I need to find foods that are iron rich to even out what I'm not getting via suppliment.
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Re: iron rich foods

  • BeachMBeachM member
    edited June 2014
    I'm pretty sure liver (chicken liver?) is the most iron rich food.  Not sure I could stomach that.  Spinach, beans, fortified cereals.

    ETA:  Eggs!  I forgot about egg yolks.
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  • workmm01workmm01 member

    I was told to eat green leafy veggies and some red meat for extra iron and as pp said, liver (yuck!)

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  • workmm01workmm01 member

    Oh and make sure you take it separately from calcium! Calcium inhibits absorbtion.

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  • KittyMishaKittyMisha member
    Molasses is extremely iron rich. If you can tolerate the taste, taking a few spoonfuls is a quick way to get a dose of iron.
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  • kshare18kshare18 member
    I hate taking my iron pills. They mess with my body, so I make sure to have a smoothie every morning. We put spinach, kale, almond milk and some sort of fruit. H calls it the green monster. I don't know how iron enriched it actually is, but it's packed with spinach and very tasty!
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  • KathleenBean84KathleenBean84 member
    My midwives recommended Floradix as a natural iron supplement that is easy to absorb and won't cause constipation. I just started taking it, so I don't know how effective it is, but it's easier on my body than iron pills!
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  • gahorseygalgahorseygal member
    I take a prenatal without iron since iron kills my digestive system as well. I have made sure to eat plenty of spinach, other leafy greens, eggs and red meat. My iron levels were perfect when they checked them 2 weeks ago. Its all about eating the right foods!
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  • lburkey21lburkey21 member

    My mom is a dietician and sent me this list of iron food sources (my iron levels are a little low):

    Meat - especially beef & lamb, shrimp, scallops, oysters, claims, turkey, sardines. Liver is too but she does not recommend eating it.
    Dark green leafy veggies like spinach, collard greens and kale
    Legumes - beans, lentils
    Pumpkin seeds
    Enriched cereals with 100% iron added
    Blackstrap molasses
    Dried fruit - especially prunes and raisins
    Peanuts
    Broccoli and brussel sprouts

    Things that inhibit absorption: spinach, chard, beet greens, rhubarb, sweet potato, coffee, tea, whole grains, bran, soy

    Things that enhance absorption: citrus and other hight Vitamin C foods like broccoli, brussel spourts, tomato, peppers, strawberries, cantelope.

    Cooking on a cast iron skillet helps absorb more iron as well.

    Take it separately from your prenatals, because like @workmm1 said, calcium also inhibits absorption. Iron can also cause constipation so I've been taking mine with just a couple of prunes and haven't had any issues so far.

     

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  • shutaffshutaff member
    Not everyone can get enough iron from food alone. Have you had your B12 levels checked? I was told that if your B12 is low, no matter how much you supplement your iron with extra iron-rich foods or pills, your body will not absorb it.
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  • caballablancacaballablanca member
    I didn't see quinoa mentioned. It's good for iron and protein!

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  • lookame3639lookame3639 member
    Thanks everyone this has been really helpful.

    @Elbug‌ my hemeglobin was at 8.5. I know they want it to be in the 11s and i know when I needed my transfusion my hemeglobin and iron levels dropped into the 7s. I haven't asked or considered an iron infusion, they were just adamant that i start suppliment in as much as possible.

    @shutaff‌ i know with crohns your b 12 is usually an issue as well as iron. In all the bloodwork I've had done I've never been told that was an issue though.
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