Lacking in Iron?!
Answers: My Acupuncturist says I am lacking in iron, I became a vegetarian in January and I am just wondering wehre I can get this from? Thanks for any help you can give me!
aneamia is the largest nutritian difficiency in the western world..across all diets including regular meat eating diets.
You can get iron from a number of vegetable sources, this page give you a list. It also includes details on why we need iron, and how much we need:
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/iron.html
Chick peas, Bran flakes, Spinach, Baked beans are all good source but the page above has more details.
Just off the top of my head...Spinach and Brocolli.
Weetabix has added iron that is easier to absorb (According to Nutrition for Dummies)
Go to the vegetarian society's web site. Its brilliant, it will tell you about plant sources of iron.
Or you could take a supplement of iron from a health foods store.
Iron rich foods include fortified breakfast cereals, wholemeal bread, wholegrains, nuts & seeds, beans (even baked beans) etc etc
But yeah, check out the vegetarian society, its fantastic for information.
best of luck to you
:-)
EDIT: Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron. Drink a glass of orange juice for breakfast to boost iron absorbtion.
Iron is a mineral that is hard to absorb even in meaty diets. So improve its absorption by having a source of vitamin c with your meals :-)
Leafy greens, fortified cereals with soy milk, tofu, beans. I also take a regular over the counter multi vitamin that has the 18 mg. daily recommended iron amount for a woman.
You're not lacking in iron b/c of vegetarianism. Just eat more vitamin C and eat more iron-rich foods like beans, peas, whole grains and/or enriched grains.
Hello
1.Cereals
2.Curry Leaves ( you dry and Powder it and use for Veg.)
3.Raw Banana
4.Beans
5.spinach
6.Drumstick Tree Leaves/Coriander Leaves.
7Apple also you can take. It produced lot of Blood.
If you get Banana Leaf, you can take food in Leaf.
My father takes all foods in Banana leaf only. He told me by eating food in Banana Leaf solve this Anemea.
But for you getting Banana leaf is difficult.
subbunaicker@yahoo.co.in
s.s.subbu
There are loads of good vegetarian sources of iron. Dark green vegetables like kale, romaine and brocolli are good, as are bean sprouts and mushrooms. Most legumes have some; lentils, chickpeas, adzuki beans and soybeans are some of the best legume sources. Whole grains are another option. Try quinoa; not only is it a good source of iron, it's a complete protein and a good source of calcium also. Amongst nuts and seeds, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are some heavy hitters. Most fruits have a little, but not much. Strawberries are a pretty good source and have the added advantage of vitamin C, which enhances iron absorption. Dried apricots and blackstrap molasses are good, too. A good iron-rich breakfast might be oatmeal made with almond milk and drizzled with blackstrap molasses, paired with some strawberries or a glass of orange juice. Cooking in cast iron pans also adds some iron to your food.
Out of curiosity, how does your acupuncturist know you're iron deficient? Have you ever had blood work done? You could take iron supplements, but before you do so, you should have your actual levels checked by having blood drawn at a doctor's office - you may not be lacking iron at all, in which case you don't want to take supplements because too much iron is as much a health concern as too little. So, try to incorporate iron-rich foods into your diet and if you're experiencing symptoms of low iron, then have your levels checked.