Help with Anemia?

[nicollette]

I suffer from anemia and I've been having a hard time keeping my energy levels up lately. Has anyone else suffered from this? I used to keep my RBC count up by eating a baked potato every day. I'd love some advice.

[Bananapie]

I also get anemia if I am not observant, I am hoping that by going 100% raw (3 and a half weeks so far!) I will clean my body up and get rid of the various internal organisms that can rob the body of the iron I need. To much Candida in the gut can take up extra iron and rob you of it also some parasites will consume extra iron. In the mean time I take a "genital Iron" vitamin made by Solgar every other day or so. I also put lemon on greens, salads, and a quarter of whole lemon in green smoothies. The acid helps with your bodies up take of iron. You could also increase your consumption of iron rich foods apricots, plums or prunes, strawberries, raisins, chocolate, wheat germ, sea vegetables (kelp has 42mg per half cup, Nori 20 mg per half cup!), spinach, beet greens, Brussel sprouts, sprouted garbanzo beans and lentils, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. These foods are referenced from my old college text book [U]The dietitians guide to vegetarian diets[U] by mark and Virginia Messina. My BS was in Nutrition.
Good luck
Iana Conner

[juliebove]

I suppose the first thing you should do is find the source of the anemia. In my case it was a dairy allergy. I stopped eating dairy, and no more anemia. The type of anemia is also important to know. If it's pernicious, then you need extra B vitamins which may need to come in the form of a shot. I've read that the oral form may now be just as acceptable, but haven't really kept up on that since it isn't my problem.

Second, you should eat plenty of foods containing vitamin C, like oranges, tomatoes and bell peppers because vitamin C helps with the absorption of iron.

[dalimeindacoconut]

I've got anemia too. Per one of the raw foodists here I just had my blood tested to figure out which type it is. My energy was so low that while I was waiting I decided to get vitamin B12 which you can just spray under your tongue. Also, after doing a bunch of research online I discovered that SAD sugar will block absorption of any iron. I am hoping as well that by going raw it will be reversed. Go get your blood tested and find out what type you have then take it from there.

[Anastasia Alston]

I had anemia pretty badly since I was about 9 yrs. old; I've taken iron supplements all my life (I'm 39). When we moved to New Mexico, the soil here is very iron rich & we were originally on a well, so no need for supplements as long as I wasn't doing anything too strenuous. As soon as my exercise schedule increased, so did my need for iron & I was back on the supplements. When I went raw I found not only did I not need them, but within a few days of being raw, taking them made me very ill. I haven't had an energy problem since & I work out pretty heavily. In the past heavy workouts & no iron supplements would mean no energy, likely blacking out & lots of dizzy spells. I have no such issues now & haven't in 3 1/2 months! :D

- Stasi

[Bananapie]

Awesome Anastasia! thanks for sharing and giving hope!

[Anastasia Alston]

Awesome Anastasia! thanks for sharing and giving hope!

You are quite welcome! :)

- Stasi

[Raw Mom]

Wheatgrass juice....