I know this was asked once before, but it only got, like, 2 brief responses. I am giving blood for the first time this weekend and, for personal female reasons, I fear my iron might be low. It's historically been a bit low anyway. I am trying to eat beef this week and spinach but my stomach's been upset so I'm not really hungry. I do take a women's multivitamin with iron. What else would you recommend to make sure my iron's up by Sunday?
2006-09-13 13:51:10 · 11 answers · asked by missd1975 3 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
Thanks for the answers so far! To clarify, I haven't been diagnosed as anemic since I was a teenager, but I fear my iron may be low right now and I don't want it to affect my chances of donating for the first time! It took a lot to psych myself up! :-)
2006-09-13 14:17:30 · update #1
I have an iron deficiency, and my doctor recommended raisins and molasses (so I enjoyed molasses cookies). Red wine was also mentioned, but I was underaged.
The links below also has some good foods with iron for blood donors :)
2006-09-13 14:00:36 · answer #1 · answered by Little Girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am usually pretty low iron as well and I normally have to boost myself with some iron to make my cycle start. I have found the quickest way to boost it is with liquid iron as it gets absorbed more quickly. There is a kind you can get at the health food stores (brand name might be FLORA) that is more similar to the kind of iron your body has naturally than the kind you get in the vitamins. It doesn't taste too bad.
I think it would be okay to do this for giving blood this weekend but you really should get your iron checked regularly if you tend to be anemic.
2006-09-13 14:29:42 · answer #2 · answered by Sue P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I commend your desire to donate blood. I realize this may not be the answer you're seeking but I believe it's important to know if you still are anemic before donating blood. If you are, you should postpone donating as it will only worsen your anemia. Healthy women with normal menstrual periods who are not postpartum or pregnant should not be anemic. If you are consistently anemic, then a workup by a physician should be done to determine why. If it is simple iron deficiency anemia, then a supplement can be prescribed. Then your doctor can advise you about when to donate. However, there are many causes of anemia. For instance, if you have a genetic disease such as thalassemia, no amount of iron supplement will correct this. Furthermore, you would be ineligible to donate.
2006-09-13 14:08:52 · answer #3 · answered by Jim 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Liver, dates, prunes, beef, pork, lamb, baked potato with skin, and green leafy vegetables are good dietary sources of iron. So is blackstrap molasses. Pills don't do much because your body just doesn't absorb iron in pill form, but Vitamin C helps in the absorption of dietary iron.
Good luck!
2006-09-13 14:03:47 · answer #4 · answered by keepsondancing 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to be anemic(lack of iron in my blood) and the doctor gave me iron pills and told me to eat red meat at least once a week. But iron pills are probably your best bet!
2006-09-13 13:59:29 · answer #5 · answered by L♥G 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Eat some Nutri-grain, apparently it's Iron-man food.
2006-09-13 13:58:26 · answer #6 · answered by coleridge49 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Eat a lot of raisins- take a plain iron vitamin--Good luck!
2006-09-13 13:55:05 · answer #7 · answered by Amy N 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
red meat if u like it liver is the best source of iron
2006-09-13 13:58:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Green leafy veggies, organ meats, beets. Any colorful veggies.
2006-09-13 14:54:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I HAVE VERY LOW IRON ALSO... TAKE 1 A DAY WOMAN'S VITAMINS... THEY HELP A LOT... THEY ARE ABOUT FIVE DOLLARS AT WAL-MART !!!
2006-09-13 13:59:35 · answer #10 · answered by ♥ NIKKI .♥ 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋