I cannot take iron what can i take instead?

Question

i am suffering from tiredness and may be slightly anaemic i cannot take iron as it upsets my stomach is there any other suppliment i can take

Answer 1

Go to your local health food store and buy a bottle of Salus Floradix liquid iron formula.

Answer 2

If you are anaemic and feeling tired all the time there is a good chance that it is an iron deficiancy. That iron can't be replaced by any other mineral. However, you can ask your doctor about an iron supplement that is specially coated to not hurt your tummy. I have problems with constipation from iron so I take one with a stool softener commonly used for prenatal care. You can also chose foods high in iron. Green leafy veggies, red meats etc... another trick is when you make tomato sauce make it in a cast iron pan. The acid in the tomatos will pull iron out of the pan. Also, and this is very important, do not drink milk, or comsume other dairy products with your meals. Save them for later. Dairy contains calcium which will counteract with the iron and you will not get the benefits from either important nutrient.

Answer 3

Have a blood test to prove you're anaemic and rule out any other underlying cause of tiredness.
Improve your diet, eat as healthily as possible. Drink plenty of water (dehydation = drastic effects on how much energy you have)
Get plenty of sleep, and exercise well during the day. It sounds silly, but itl really improve your overall health and help to make you feel better.

If you're already doing all of these, look at your diet... are you eating enough dark green vegetables, red meat, etc?

Fortified cereals are also a great bet, as a generous bowlful will probably give you everything you need.

Please be absolutely sure you are anaemic before taking things like iron supplements though. You can overdose on iron, and it is extremely painful. Trust me I've been there!

Good luck and hope you feel better soon!

Answer 4

Sometimes people react to iron supplements. Diarrhoea is a very common side effect. You would need to a blood test to determine the type of anaemia then you may be able to tolerate whichever supplement is best. Folic acid for example. If not, you can buy herbal supplements such as beetroot extract. Otherwise just eat a diet rich in iron. Green, leafy vegetables are best. You would need a blood test first to determine the type and severity. A normal haemogloblin range is between 11 and 14. Anything under 10 would be symptomatic and require an intervention. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Have you seen a doctor? Find out if you ARE anemic or not. Tiredness can be caused by several different things, not just iron. B-vitamin deficiency, stress, depression, illness or disease, dehydration, side effects of other medication, glandular problems, etc. If you are otherwise healthy and eat meat, you should be getting all the iron you need. Cooking in iron skillets will also increase the iron content of the food you eat, and vitamin C can help with iron absorption. If you consume a lot of tea, coffee, high fiber foods or calcium, that can interfere with iron absorption.

Fortified cereals and blackstrap molasses are good dietary sources of iron. The links below have more.

Answer 6

If you're not sure whether you are anemic or not, you should ask your doctor to do blood work. Self-diagnosis can be fatal! (An overload of iron has some of the same symptoms as anemia and anemia can be caused by other problems as well. If you have an overload of iron taking more could kill you. That last part is obvious, though.)

I have heard that blackstrap molasses is a good alternative to the nasty pills. I, myself, am anemic. I never remember those pills and would love to try that molasses myself! The pills always cause me problems even when I take them with a meal! Usually drinking lots of water helps me a bit.

Answer 7

You can focus on fortified cereals and foods high in iron instead.

You cannot take an iron suppliment on an emtpy stomach. Its best taken with some protein, and later in the day. Say with dinner, or atleast with a solid breakfast. Such as eggs or something.

Answer 8

You'll still need the iron. See if your doctor has some ideas for soothing your stomach. I have to eat when I take iron because it lessens the sickness.

There's no substitute for an essential mineral that your body needs to function however, you can eat red meat or spinach which have lots of iron in them naturally.

Answer 9

There is no subsitute for iron. I learned to give myself shots once a month, when iron upset my stomach. First be sure that you have low iron, you need some blood work from your Doctor.

Answer 10

Drink Guinness