Anemia

Dec 12 16:40 UTC 1995

I have had iron deficiency anemia for a while now, but I'm getting tired of
eating meat all the time.  I know that potatoes and leafy greens contain a
lot of iron, but does anyone know of any other foods with high iron content?
I'm trying to lose weight, and eating hamburgers and steak doesn't help with
that.  Salads are great, but the lettuce at NMU is that white/light green
kind that is reserved for schools.  ;)  Any suggestions?

response 2 of 44:

Dec 12 21:02 UTC 1995

<shakes head>
Sorry, kerouac, but by drinking Slim Fast *with* a meal, it would be like
eating two to three meals at once.  I do *not* need the fat or calories!  ;)

response 4 of 44:

Dec 13 02:36 UTC 1995

Ja, iron pills tend to have the fewest calories... :-)

response 6 of 44:

Dec 13 08:32 UTC 1995

it's funny that you should put this in when you did, sarah....i just started
having this problem....:)

the women in my family have an iron deficiancy, but it's not really anemia,
just an iron deficiancy.  (i'm not sure of the diferance...i just know that
i am not anemic, but have problems keeping iron in.  :)  lately, since my
diet has gone to hell, i've been cold/tired, etc.  once i realized it, i
went back to taking iron supps (be careful, they will give you constipation!)
and being more careful of what i eat...(i had a steak for dinner the other 
night)

obviously, red meat and spinach are good.  another idea are cereal....corn
flakes and the like have a lot of iron in them (check the box!!!!!)  what's
fun about those, is that if you take a magnet to them, you will get little
tiny iron filings....:)  then you KNOW you are getting your iron!!!  :)
(yes, they are completely safe.  :)  as for others....(meg pulls out her
rodales natural cookbook...:)
        apricots, blackstrap molasses, brewer's yeast, dark green leafy
        veggies, eggs, legumes (peas, beans, peanuts, and lentils), nuts,
        sunflower seeds, variety meats, wheat germ, and whole grain
        products.

i just copied strait from the book....it's nice because it has a list of
different vitamins and minerals, an what foods to find them in.  :)

response 8 of 44:

Dec 13 19:48 UTC 1995

but don't cook it into a mush....just blanch it a bit...:)

response 10 of 44:

Dec 14 15:27 UTC 1995

Thank you all very much!  It turns out that some of my favorite foods are on
those lists.  =)  In response to rickyb's questions...my hemoglobin level is
around 8 (as of October 17), with the average being 10.5 in adults.  My red
count is slightly low, but I don't know the exact number.  If I'm feeling
tired/cold/shaky during the day, I take a multi-vitamin tab.  Also, if I know
I'm not going to have many chances to eat during the day, especially *good*
food, I eat a bowl of Total cereal in the morning.  It has 100% of the daily
allowance of iron.  My doctor mentioned taking something like iron sulfate
<?> if the vitamins and diet doesn't help.  Do you know anything about this?

response 12 of 44:

Dec 15 17:54 UTC 1995

I take something called "One-A-Day" vitamins.  They have a special formula
for women that contains extra iron and calcium.  So far, they've been working
like a charm, but they make me kind of antsy.  I've learned to take them
*after* classes are done for the day.  ;)

response 14 of 44:

Dec 16 06:53 UTC 1995

can you cut back to half the dose?

response 16 of 44:

Dec 26 15:21 UTC 1995

i can't stand the taste that it adds to food, tho....and it drives me crazy to
have to clean the stupid things!!!!  

response 18 of 44:

Dec 27 16:47 UTC 1995

Slimfast & other diet shakes do have lots of calories 
and carbohydrates.  A friend of mine gained a ton of weight before
he realized they were in lieu of meals, not in addition to.

Cast iron pans don't really add enough iron to your diet.

If you've been seeing a doctor, ask about prenatal vitamins, they
are VERY high in iron and are available over the counter.  The 
prescription ones contain more folic acid or something that  you
don't need.

Also, look for a mild iron supplement called "Slow FE"--it's
time-released tiny tablets & doesn't hurt your stomach or cause
many of the other unpleasant side effects of iron.  Expensive,
but worth it!

The vitamins & minerals in a good vitamin should not make you
jumpy.  I'd guess there is a hidden ingredient such as caffeine.
Try a different brand than on-a-day.  

Also, milk/calcium/dairy products can interfere w/iron absorption,
so a glass of milk with your vitamin or meat can reduce the 
effects of the iron you arae consuming.

response 20 of 44:

Dec 28 22:50 UTC 1995

You'd season a cast iron pan just like seasoning a wok, or any other pan I'd
think.  Heat a clean pan, put a small amount of oil in the hot pan and let
it coat the entire surface, then, quickly rinse it with _hot_ water and give
it a wipe.  Dry any excess water off by warming it over a hot burner, you can
even wipe the oily surface once more while it's still hot.

Be sure the pan is then heated _before_ you put any food in it to cook.  If
you're frying or sauteing heat the oil to temp before adding the vegys or
meats.  Rinse and clean the pan _immediately_, while its still hot from
cooking, then re-season it by heating...add a little bit of oil...rinse with
hot water...dry over burner.

response 22 of 44:

Dec 30 00:36 UTC 1995

Heat drying is important, as cast iron rusts easily.