Posts Tagged ‘Iron Rich Foods’

How to Avoid Anemia

Comments: 0July 20th, 2010 by admin



Anemia is a word recognised by many people but maybe not fully understood. If you are anaemic you either don’t have enough red blood cells or you have enough red blood cells but they can’t carry enough oxygen. You will often feel faint, short of breath and unusually tired and lethargic.

The main causes of anemia are loss of blood, not enough red cell production or faster destruction than manufacture of red blood cells.

Your red blood cells have a protein called hemoglobin inside which carries oxygen round the body. So they are vital to your everyday health.

There are different types of anemia depending on the cause. Probably the most common is iron deficiency Anemia caused by blood loss and which commonly affects women with heavy periods.

A second common type is pernicious anemia. This happens when your body can’t make enough red blood cells due to poor absorption of vitamin B12. It can be due to a lack of a vital protein called intrinsic factor without which the body cannot absorb B12. It also occurs in a poor diet, especially when combined with alcohol problems.

Anemia of any causes will give you symptoms such as excessive shortness of breath, lethargy, fatigue, very pale complexion, cold hands and feet and possibly chest pain. They are all fairly vague but a doctor should soon pick up and diagnose your problems.

It is diagnosed with a simple blood test, which will also help your doctor decide which type of anemia you have and the appropriate treatment.

For iron deficiency the treatment is to reduce the loss of blood, if possible and to increase your iron intake. This could be by taking iron tablets or by changing your diet. Iron rich foods include green leafy vegetables, red meat, eggs, nuts and beans.

Pernicious anemia is treated with monthly vitamin B12 injections. If poor diet or alcohol is also a problem then reducing the alcohol and eating healthier foods such as fortified breakfast cereals, meat, liver, eggs and cheese will help increase your B12 intake and improve the anemia.

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Danger Foods For Hemochromatosis Sufferers

Comments: 0August 15th, 2009 by admin



Many foods are iron rich foods. Eating these foods will increase the iron levels in your blood almost instantly. Consuming foods that are iron rich can be very beneficial for many people. However, for some people, iron rich foods can be detrimental.

For example, if a person has hemochromatosis, eating iron rich foods can cause more harm than good. In this article, we will review some of the iron rich foods that are out there. If you are trying to add iron to your diet, or you wish to avoid foods with excessive levels of iron for medical reasons, you should consult your doctor for an appropriate diet for your circumstances.

If a person has a low amount of iron in their body, they may become prone to anemia. Anemia results when the body is experiencing an iron deficiency. The body starts to crave and seek iron, so it weakens the body while trying to search for the iron that is required for the normal functioning of the body. A person may become weak and experience extreme fatigue if they have anemia.

If you have or think you have anemia, it is very important that you seek the care of a doctor. Anemia may be the result of more than a simple low level of iron; it may be caused by ulcers throughout the body as well as something more serious, like cancer in the body. People with anemia are usually given a diet that is rich in iron.

People who have a high amount of iron in their blood are best to stay away from foods that are high in iron unless directed by a physician. People who have a high amount of iron in their blood can develop conditions like Hemochromatosis. Hemochromatosis can be a serious condition that can lead to organ failure and even death. If you have this condition, it is vital that you seek the care of a physician and stick to the diet that is prescribed to you.

One of the best forms of iron rich foods are meats that are red. If you are trying to keep your weight down, or are concerned about gaining weight, you may want to consume red meats that are classified as extra lean. One of the best sources of meat in the area of iron is liver.

If you do not eat meat for personal reasons, but wish to reap the benefits of additional iron, you may want to consider eating foods that contain high levels of Vitamin C. This vitamin helps the body to absorb the iron that it meets more quickly. If you do not eat meat and wish to implement more iron into your diet, you should ensure that you are eating a lot of beans, dried fruit, and grains.

There are many other foods that are rich in iron and they are as follows:
* Boiled Mussels
* Sausage
* Shrimp
* Sardines
* Sesame Seeds
* Almonds
* Hazelnuts.

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Iron Rich Foods For Vegetarians

Comments: 0July 22nd, 2009 by admin



Iron is an important element for your body to utilize in hemoglobin, which transports oxygen in your blood to all the parts of your body. It’s also necessary for many metabolic reactions in your body. Iron deficiency and the resulting anemia is the most widespread mineral deficiency.

Iron is needed for your body to form the red pigment in your blood, also known as hemoglobin. The iron within your hemoglobin combines with oxygen and takes it throughout your whole body, its organs and its tissues. The average human body contains between 3.5 and 4.5 grams of iron, and two-thirds of that is in your hemoglobin. The rest of your iron is stored in your bone marrow, spleen and liver. A very small amount is also stored in myoglobin, which stores oxygen in the tissue of your muscles.

If your body is deficient in its stores of iron, it can lead to anemia. If the iron stores become depleted, then your synthesis of hemoglobin can be inhibited. Symptoms of anemia include pallor, loss of appetite, insomnia, headaches, breathlessness, lack of stamina and tiredness. All of these symptoms are associated with a lowered oxygen supply to your organs and tissues. Iron is also important to your immune system, so people with low levels of iron have a lower resistance to infection.

Research has also shown that low levels of iron can be associated with impaired function of the brain. Iron deficiency in infants can result in behavior problems and impaired learning ability.

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional problem worldwide. It has been stated by researchers that two-thirds of children and women of child-bearing age in third-world countries suffer from a lack of iron. And one third of the people in those areas suffer from severe iron deficiency and anemia.

If you are a vegetarian, you will not get iron from meat, which is a usual source of haem. In plant foods, you will find only non-haem iron. This iron is harder to absorb, so more plant foods must be eaten to take in proper amounts of iron.

The rate at which your body can absorb iron from vegetables is also influenced by the other things you may eat with your meals. Phosphates in plant foods can inhibit the rate of absorption, as can the tannin that is often found in tea. Fiber may also inhibit iron absorption.

Vitamin C helps your body to absorb plant-type iron. These include leafy green vegetables, green peppers and citrus fruits. Alcohol, amino acids, sugars and citric acid also helps your body better absorb iron.

Some of the better foods high in iron for vegetarians include dried fruits, kidney beans, lentils, blackstrap molasses, leafy green vegetables and whole grain flours and cereals.

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Haemochromatosis – Causes, Symptoms, Information With Treatment

Comments: 0January 14th, 2009 by admin



Haemochromatosis is one of the most common hereditary diseases. Its main role is in making red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of the body. When too much iron is taken up it slowly builds up in various parts of the body, including the liver, heart and pancreas. It may be many years before there are any symptoms of haemochromatosis and when problems do arise they are often very vague and can be confused with many other conditions. This is the most common of all the genetic conditions; it is even more common than cystic fibrosis or muscular dystrophy. Sometimes the skin has a ‘sun-tanned’ colour. If the pancreas is affected, diabetic complications may occur. Heart problems such as palpitations and shortness of breath can also happen.

Symptoms of Haemochromatosis

Some Symptoms of Haemochromatosis:

Painful joints

Bronze skin pigmentation

Loss of sex drive

Enlarged liver

Discomfort in the upper stomach

abdominal pain

weight loss

Fatigue

Diabetic symptoms such as excessive thirst and frequent urination.

Treatment of Haemochromatosis

Reducing the amount of iron absorbed by the body – patients are advised to avoid iron-rich foods and alcohol.

Removing excess iron from the body by removing blood from the body (venesection therapy or phlebotomy), often a pint a week, until iron levels in the blood are normal.

Avoiding vitamin supplements containing vitamin C and iron

Avoiding excessive red meat and liver in the diet

Sexual dysfunction and arthritis do not usually improve. Indeed arthritis may appear later even if absent at the time of diagnosis and treatment.

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