Eternal Sunshine Posted March 2, 2013 Share Posted March 2, 2013 I have been struggling with this for years. I have very heavy periods and unfortunately, can't seem to keep iron levels up - they are always below the lower limit. I hate red meat and when I try to eat it more it doesn't last for long. I do take an iron supplement every day but it's not really working. Not sure why. Back in my home country, doctors used to give me iron injections - I would get a few shots and not have to worry about my iron for a year. The difference in energy levels was amazing. In Australia, no doctor wants to prescribe me an iron injection and they just tell me to eat red meat and take supplements. Just wondering if anyone has any ideas. Link to post Share on other sites
TaraMaiden Posted March 2, 2013 Share Posted March 2, 2013 If you have any European roots, you may be resistant or even allergic to Iron. I'm half Italian and I have Thalassemia Minor. I take Folic Acid, because Iron just leeches out of my system, and just gets stored in the liver as a 'toxin'. Ask for a blood test to test for thalassemia. Folic acid works for me. Link to post Share on other sites
LFH Posted March 2, 2013 Share Posted March 2, 2013 Also look into birth control alternatives that decrease the frequency of your periods such as specific birth control pills, an IUD or shots. It's not ideal but it may help if that is increasing your iron issues. Link to post Share on other sites
FitChick Posted March 2, 2013 Share Posted March 2, 2013 Google foods that have iron. I'm pretty sure green leafy veg and prunes are just two of them. Link to post Share on other sites
amaysngrace Posted March 2, 2013 Share Posted March 2, 2013 Caffeine inhibits iron absorption. Don't take supplements with morning tea or coffee. Egg yolks are a favorite source of iron according to the American Heart Association. Link to post Share on other sites
adelia Posted March 2, 2013 Share Posted March 2, 2013 Caffeine inhibits iron absorption. Don't take supplements with morning tea or coffee. Egg yolks are a favorite source of iron according to the American Heart Association. I didnt realize that about caffeine 1 Link to post Share on other sites
M30USA Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Spinach. Body absorbs hardly anything from pills. Go the natural way. Link to post Share on other sites
TaraMaiden Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Spinach contains less iron than parsley or other greens. Spinach is a good source of iron, but it's not the best. We believe Spinach contains high levels of iron due to the simple mis-placement of a period during analysis. The myth about spinach and its high iron content may have first been propagated by Dr. E. von Wolf in 1870, because a misplaced decimal point in his publication led to an iron-content figure that was ten times too high. In 1937, German chemists reinvestigated this "miracle vegetable" and corrected the mistake. It was described by T.J. Hamblin in British Medical Journal, December 1981. However, it does contain decent levels of Folic Acid - which is what I suggested the OP take in tle first place. Recently, opioid peptides called rubiscolins have also been found in spinach. It is a source of folic acid, and this vitamin was first purified from spinach. To benefit from the folate in spinach, it is better to steam it than to boil it. Boiling spinach for four minutes can halve the level of folate. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
TaraMaiden Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 ES, do you have any 'European Mediterranean Basin' Blood in you? (Greek, Italian, Southern French, Spanish, Portugese, North African.....) Thalassemia is also known as 'Target Cell anaemia' because the platelets look, under the microscope, like archery targets. They are less efficient at carrying oxygen and nutrients round the system, like normal healthy platelets do. It's similar to sickle-cell anaemia, which is found mainly in black people, and is prevalent in Africa and the middle East... Link to post Share on other sites
PogoStick Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Birth control sounds like a good idea. Iron from meats are more easily absorbed than from plant sources (heme vs nonheme). Plus plant sources tend to have other components (phytates) that interfere with absorption. Eating meat with vegetables will increase nonheme absorption. Doesn't have to be red meat, pork and seafood works too. Egg yolks are a good source. Tea, coffee, calcium (therefore milk or calcium fortified foods), and antacids can reduce iron absorption. Vitamin C increases iron absorption. Have some citrus fruit or orange juice with your meals. The classic bacon and eggs + OJ would be great for you. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Eternal Sunshine Posted March 3, 2013 Author Share Posted March 3, 2013 ES, do you have any 'European Mediterranean Basin' Blood in you? (Greek, Italian, Southern French, Spanish, Portugese, North African.....) Thalassemia is also known as 'Target Cell anaemia' because the platelets look, under the microscope, like archery targets. They are less efficient at carrying oxygen and nutrients round the system, like normal healthy platelets do. It's similar to sickle-cell anaemia, which is found mainly in black people, and is prevalent in Africa and the middle East... I do actually - I never heard of this illness. I will mention this to my doctor. I do think it's weird that my body doesn't seem to be absorbing iron at all. Link to post Share on other sites
adelia Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Didn't know that about calcium either. Link to post Share on other sites
Anela Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Kale, in smoothies? The dark green, fresh kind, not bagged, although that might help a bit. Fr some reason, mine have been heavier again, and more painful - I used to have horrendous pain, and it's back with a vengeance. Would nutritional yeast help? Link to post Share on other sites
Amelie1980 Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 I have chronic low iron and have given up with it. Vitamin C aids absorption though. Take your supplement on an empty stomach with orange juice. Link to post Share on other sites
Anela Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Coconut water apparently helps with absorption, too. Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Start with B12 shots. Iron and B12 go hand in hand if your iron levels are low, then your B12 must be at it's absolute lowest. Also, you could get iron shots as well, monthly ones, as the supplements aren't enough to get your levels up to normal. Ask your Dr about this. Link to post Share on other sites
FitChick Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Spinach is a good source of iron, but it's not the best. Try telling that to Popeye! Link to post Share on other sites
TaraMaiden Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Spinach contains less iron than parsley or other greens. Spinach is a good source of iron, but it's not the best. We believe Spinach contains high levels of iron due to the simple mis-placement of a period during analysis. This occurred in 1870.... Try telling that to Popeye! He made his first appearance in 1929.... The error was then discovered in 1937.... By that time, it was too late.... Popeye had OD'd on so much tinned spinach, that nobody actually saw him ever eating anything else..... And Wimpy got all the burgers..... Link to post Share on other sites
th90 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 I have been struggling with this for years. I have very heavy periods and unfortunately, can't seem to keep iron levels up - they are always below the lower limit. I hate red meat and when I try to eat it more it doesn't last for long. I do take an iron supplement every day but it's not really working. Not sure why. . I think you actually need to find out the cause for your iron malabsorption and ways to increase your iron absorption. Very heavy period should not be taken lightly too. Consult a gynaecologist too? Link to post Share on other sites
TaraMaiden Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Start with B12 shots. Iron and B12 go hand in hand if your iron levels are low, then your B12 must be at it's absolute lowest. Also, you could get iron shots as well, monthly ones, as the supplements aren't enough to get your levels up to normal. Ask your Dr about this. Sorry, but No, do NOT have 'Iron shots as well' until you have it confirmed by doctors that you are not Thalassemic. But the B12 advice is certainly worth considering. And this snippet, from M30USA is classic nonsense: Body absorbs hardly anything from pills. Go the natural way. if this were the case, all medication dispensed in tablet and pill forms would be pointless. What a ridiculous statement to make..... Link to post Share on other sites
Amelie1980 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Spatone®- Official UK Site - Nelsons UK Link to post Share on other sites
Amelie1980 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Iron supplements for haemoglobin and red blood cells - Feroglobin from Vitabiotics.com Gentler than supplements? Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Sorry, but No, do NOT have 'Iron shots as well' until you have it confirmed by doctors that you are not Thalassemic. But the B12 advice is certainly worth considering. And this snippet, from M30USA is classic nonsense: if this were the case, all medication dispensed in tablet and pill forms would be pointless. What a ridiculous statement to make..... No I am not saying that. I told her to go see her Dr and suggested what could happen..not for her to just go do it. I know they do not give out shots, unless it's absolutely necessary. Link to post Share on other sites
TaraMaiden Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Oh... Ok, sorry, my bad. I misunderstood you. Link to post Share on other sites
Anela Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 I read about something earlier, that contains a lot of Iron and Vitamin C. I think it was Parsley. Link to post Share on other sites
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