Just had my yearly

[RawMagnolia]

Hello everyone...

Hope you don't mind my asking... but I just had my physical, and the results of my blood tests were that my iron is extremely low. I've never really had great iron levels, or ate a lot of meat. But lately (last good month or so) I quit eating cheese or milk, and I've cut down on what meat I did eat as well. I'd like to stop all animal products all together.

So I think this probably put me over the edge, and I have now been prescribed iron pills. She said I should be around 14 on my iron level, and I'm a 3.

Now I know that I need to eat more of the dark greens to raise my iron level. Spinach, etc. I've been eating salads with mainly iceburg mix with some romain on top. Just getting used to daily salads. But since my iron is low I know that I need to get the greener greens into me sooner.

Anyone have any other advice for getting my iron level up??

Thanks
Sandra

[Rawkinlocs]

Hi WannaBRaw,

I have been deemed anemic most of my life, even when eating high amounts of animal products.

I haven't been checked lately, but I know that whatever my levels are, they're not worse than they were before.

But anyway, you might want to add darker greens to those salads...instead of iceberg with some romaine, how about romaine or green leaf lettuce with some iceberg! :D

Also, green smoothies are an excellent way to get more of the darker greens like kale, spinach, etc. into your diet. Also, they say that Vitamin C helps the body to better absorb the iron in the greens...so maybe some juicing of oranges and greens (?).

Aside from salads and green smoothies, you can also do lettuce or collard leaf wraps where you stuff a leaf with various veggies (marinated or not), maybe a pate' of some sort and eat it! Do you have Alissa's book? She has some YUMMY collard wraps in there as well as many pate' recipes that would be great rolled in leaves. She also has a marinated greens recipe that is another way to get greens in. It doesn't have to be salads only.

I'm sure others will chime in with more suggestions and iron-rich foods for you!

So, aside from the iron, everything else checked out okay?

[Rawkinlocs]

OH...and one more thing I forgot...bear in mind that their "charts" are based on SAD/meat eaters! Not saying you don't want to up your iron or that a level 3 isn't too low..I'm not really sure, but even if being at 3 is too low, that doesn't necessarily mean that you need to be at 14 either. Remember, the RDA for protein is even higher than what humans actually really need so, just something else to think about.

[Angelina]

I can easily squeeze a full package of baby spinach (I'm talking the big Ready Pac, 1lb bags) into a smoothie with a banana and mango or some frozen berries. Its the best, can't even taste the greens. Sesame seeds are also a good source of iron. I get Artisana Tahini (it has a good amount of calcium and iron). What about sprouted lentils? They're a great source too.

[RawMagnolia]

Thanks a bunch girls!! I have some sesame seeds at home... but I keep forgetting to add them to my salads (doh!)

It sounds like I should really get Alissa's book. Back when I was doing a more RAW diet last year I bought several books, but didn't get Alissa's. (Double doh!) lol!

I am going to be away on vaca for a bit over a week, but once I get back I plan to try to do some smoothies as well as try sprouting again.

Around here RAW isn't even heard of, so we only have the produce deemed "organic" at our local Zehers. So I'm kinda having to comprimise on the organic for now. Plus I don't want to get to overwhelmed like I did last time, so.... but I can't wait to try sprouting some sunflower seeds for myself! It'll be a nice added green to my life in the dead of winter!!

Sandra

P.S. Rawkinlocs... you're right I'd better start planning on role reversing my salads =)

[exurb]

WannaB, IMO do LOTS of research on this, and keep checking your iron. Google all sorts of stuff, iron sources, heme and non-heme iron, etc... I would say try to really understand the difference between iron absorption and the amount of iron a food might contain, because there can be iron absorption inhibitors also, and differences in the way we absorb iron.

But briefly a couple of little things you can do is to add a squirt of citrus to help increase the iron absorption of iron containing foods. Also keep your iron eating away from your calcium eating where possible, both calcium and tannins decrease iron absorption. Are you avoiding tea and coffee?

One of my old science teachers said to put a rusty nail in a glass of water :confused: , I don't know if he was just talking out of his ass or what. Plus, I would think nails aren't raw anyway :o

[jaurequi]

WannaBRaw, don't forget fruit! Fresh is best, but dried is a good way to get your levels up quickly. Most dried fruits have good amounts anyway, being concentrated.

A few reminders would be: fresh figs or dried, fresh apricots or dried; raisins; bananas; watermelon.

Best,

[sibyl3]

I believe spinach is a good source of iron - to the point where I've read not to eat too much (i.e. large salad every day), as too much iron isn't good for you.

A google search will probably offer a lot of results on foods high in iron!

Good luck!

Amy