Well, I may be made of steel, but apparently I'm lacking some serious iron.
In the past month or so, I have felt OFF. I have been tired beyond what is normal to me. My workouts have been lacking. I've been fatiguing easier.
It was a familiar feeling...a distant one...it was time to get a blood test.
I went in for blood work just prior to the "superfood supercharge" I am doing right now. The results came in yesterday, and once again...I am ANEMIC. I thought I had this beat, but it's back. :(
It's interesting that once I transitioned back into a normal diet that included animal protein, I became iron deficient again. That is precisely what the doctor ordered....more meat. Clearly, for me...this was not the answer. Am I anti meat? No. But was meat the cure to my anemia? No.
Don't get me wrong, I still ate lots of superfoods, but not nearly as many as I did during my one month Superfood Vegan Cleanse several months ago. My blood was great back then! So was my endurance, my mood, my energy. Basically, I felt amazing.
Recently, not so much.
Anemia is actually not uncommon at all. Many people suffer from it in a low grade way. It's no fun, but there are natural ways to get out of the Red Zone. SO, let's take a quick look at Anemia.
What is Anemia?
Anemia (uh-NEE-me-uh) is a condition in which your blood has a lower than normal number of red blood cells.Anemia also can occur if your red blood cells don't contain enough hemoglobin (HEE-muh-glow-bin). Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that gives blood its red color. This protein helps red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
If you have anemia, your body doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood. As a result, you may feel tired or weak. You also may have other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, dizziness, or headaches.
Severe or long-lasting anemia can damage your heart, brain, and other organs in your body. Very severe anemia may even cause death.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/anemia/
What Causes Anemia?
Let's Look at the most common cause
- Iron-deficiency anemia occurs because of a lack of the mineral iron in the body. Bone marrow in the center of the bone needs iron to make hemoglobin, the part of the red blood cell that transports oxygen to the body's organs. Without adequate iron, the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin for red blood cells. The result is iron-deficiency anemia. This type of anemia can be caused by:
- An iron-poor diet, especially in infants, children, teens, vegans, and vegetarians
- The metabolic demands of pregnancy and breastfeeding that deplete a woman's iron stores
- Menstruation
- Frequent blood donation
- Endurance training
- Digestive conditions such as Crohn's disease or surgical removal of part of the stomach or small intestine
- Certain drugs, foods, and caffeinated drinks
(Interesting how they say a vegan diet is low in iron. This is only true if these are not plant based vegans. For myself, a month of veganism increased my iron).
Endurance Training CHECK
Genetics CHECK Thanks, Mom
So, How does one increase iron in there blood?
Well, the doctor will most likely prescribe you an iron pill.
I recommend finding an alternative to the iron pill.
They will constipate you for days. They are awful.
I have taken them before. I ended up having to get an xray because my abdomen was so swollen. I was in severe pain. And well, I won't tell you all the things the doctors prescribed me to fix THAT problem.
It's funny how prescription medications just snow ball.
I took matters into my own hands and decided to start from square one....Get rid of the iron pills.
I began researching ways to boost iron naturally.
Here are some of the home remedies I followed.
Home Remedies for anemia #2 Make sure you are eating plenty of iron rich food, such as, liver, green leafy vegetable, beets, dried fruits, bran flake, oysters, brown rice, lentils and molasses, raisins, prunes; breads and pastas made from hole grain flour.
Home Remedies for anemia #3 Avoid drinking coffee, tea and ingesting antacids, because they decrease iron absorption.
Home Remedies for anemia #4 Try to cook in iron pots; it is proven that doing it can significantly increases the amount of iron in your foods.
Home Remedies for anemia #5 During your pregnancy it's important to take the correct vitamins that will help you and your baby to be healthy.
Home Remedies for anemia #6 In addition take an organic form of Iron ( amino acid chelate ): 100 mg of elemental Iron daily (Iron aspararte, citrate or picolinate ), not the poorly absorbed sulphate which may cause constipation and/or stomachache. Vitamin C (500 mg), it's recommended to be taken with iron for better absorption. Desiccated liver tablets may be helpful as well and a Folic acid supplement, with Vitamin B6 and B12 should be used to prevent anemia.
Iron Rich Foods
- Lean red meats eg, beef, pork, lamb, duck, goose, horses are all rich source of iron.
- Seafoods such as oysters, clams, tuna, shrimp and salmon are also rich in iron. Clams and oysters are shell fishes that have high iron content and are extremely easy to cook. Oysters contain magnesium, zinc, calcium and copper.
- Beet Root which is deep red in color is another great source of iron and helps in replenishing and cleansing the system. It helps the regeneration and reactivation of RBC’s.
- Spinach is yet another iron source amongst the greens.
- Broccoli is an iron rich vegetable that is easily cooked and has seen plenty of use in salads.
- Almonds are a source of iron that can be included in the daily diet.
- Dates are another type of dry fruits that have high levels of iron in them and have a variety of uses in different recipes to add the extra sweetness.
- Fenugreek is an herb that is commonly used in countries like India. It is rich in iron and it is also known to be good for diabetic patients.
- Asparagus can be a great source of iron when included in your daily soups and salad intake.
- Romaine Lettuce is a good source of iron and can be consumed in its raw form. Most commonly they are used in salads and sandwiches.
- Swiss Chard has a lot of health benefits and they are known to increase the absorption of iron in the body.
- Another important source of this mineral is Kale Cabbage.
- Corn also contains iron and it can be eaten as a nutritious snack when boiled with spices.
- Potatoes along with their skin are another source of iron, They also enhance the absorption of iron in the body.
- Yet another dry fruit that enhances your iron content in the body are raisins. These are recommended for anemic patients. They also have antioxidant properties that helps protect the cell structure.
- Amongst fruits the richest source of iron is seen in apricot, watermelon and figs. They can be eaten raw and in case of apricots, the dried forms can be consumed. They have various other health benefits as well.
- Carrot is a good source of iron.
- Whole wheat products like bread and rotis are also good for incorporating iron in your diet.
- Tomato has the characteristic red color that is an indication of the presence of iron and is an ideal source due to its vast use in the daily diet.
- Some other rich sources of iron include lentils, green peas, soybeans, alfalfa, barley, chickpeas, bran flakes, museli, tofu, green beans, cashews, soy yogurt, millet, sesame seeds, finger millet, sprouts, lima beans, pork roast, kidney beans, egg yolks, turnip greens, pumpkin, prune juice, beet leaves, Bok choy, navy beans, black eye beans, pinto beans, tempeh, tahini, pumpkin seeds and so on.
What am I doing this time around?
Well, I'm NOT picking up the iron pills my doctor called in. Instead, I picked up a product that has FABULOUS reviews and I can't wait to try it.
It's called Floradix. You can get it at your local health food store.
I mix a cap full in with my superfood smoothies. Not too bad!
What is Floradix?
Floradix provides maximum absorption by using the most highly absorbable
form of iron, iron gluconate. Floradix also contains B vitamins and
vitamin C to enhance absorption, herbal extracts to increase digestion,
and fruit juices to ensure proper stomach acidity.
A twenty milligram dose of Floradix satisfies the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of fifteen milligrams of iron for women of child-bearing age. Iron is essential for hemoglobin formation and for the effective circulation of oxygen throughout the body.
Without adequate levels of iron in the blood, one will be left feeling lethargic and tired. Women are more likely to suffer from anemia and low blood-iron because menstruation, pregnancy and breastfeeding tax their iron stores. Vegetarians are at higher risk of developing iron deficiency and so are those who eat little red meat.
The Inside Scoop:
Liquid iron gluconate (Floradix) is one of the most reliable and trusted forms of liquid iron world wide. This time tested, non-constipating & well-known liquid iron and vitamin formula helps prevent iron deficiency and will greatly increase your energy, overall health and well being.
A twenty milligram dose of Floradix satisfies the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of fifteen milligrams of iron for women of child-bearing age. Iron is essential for hemoglobin formation and for the effective circulation of oxygen throughout the body.
Without adequate levels of iron in the blood, one will be left feeling lethargic and tired. Women are more likely to suffer from anemia and low blood-iron because menstruation, pregnancy and breastfeeding tax their iron stores. Vegetarians are at higher risk of developing iron deficiency and so are those who eat little red meat.
The Inside Scoop:
Liquid iron gluconate (Floradix) is one of the most reliable and trusted forms of liquid iron world wide. This time tested, non-constipating & well-known liquid iron and vitamin formula helps prevent iron deficiency and will greatly increase your energy, overall health and well being.
Here are some reviews:
"I am a male endurance athlete who has had iron deficiency and borderline
anemia for many years. Year after year my bloodtests would show
anywhere from "low normal" to very low levels of red blood cells and
also low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. During and after hard
workouts I would feel very tired and would have to rest and recover alot
longer than my athletic friends who had done the same workout. I tried
everything from eating red meat 3 times a week to taking various types
of "iron pills". Nothing worked until I starting taking Liquid
Floradix. This stuff is really amazing! After only about 4-5 days I
began to feel alot stronger during my workouts and just had more energy
in general throughout the day. I definitely recommend this product to
anyone who has had a problem absorbing iron using the normal methods.
This stuff has really changed the way I feel. Try it--you won't be
sorry!"
"Had a tough delivery with my
first child and needed iron. Found iron supplements to be too
harsh...and months later saw an ad for this in a mom's mag. This time
around, I tried it and love love love it... I assume it works for my
iron levels and it doesn't have those side effects one might expect with
taking iron. PLUS, it is in this fruit-juice base so the flavor/taste
is not bad at all -- no real aftertaste. You just kinda taste this
"natural" tasting berry juice flavor.... so, I like it a lot. Very
impressed."
"Blood work showed anemia - I took over the counter and prescription iron supplements for months and nothing was working.
I went to a small but knowledgeable supplement store and Floradix was recommended... with Floradix I had no nasty symptoms and when I did a blood test approximately 2 months later my iron levels were normal!!"
I went to a small but knowledgeable supplement store and Floradix was recommended... with Floradix I had no nasty symptoms and when I did a blood test approximately 2 months later my iron levels were normal!!"
This is Definitely Going on my Fit List!
I can't wait to see the results!
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