how can you raise the levels of iron in your blood??

Question

i donate plasma and they say the levels are low...so i was wonderin how to raise it to the acceptable level....

Answer 1

you should not supplement with iron unless you're anemic. by that i mean; you should speak to your doctor and ask him or her to run some labwork on you. there are many iron supplements available over the counter but many are quite hard on the stomach. there is a product called gentle iron, which is not.

there are also some prescription drugs available, but you haven't told us much. for example, why you're anemic and if some other medical problem could be causing this.

here's some information that might interest you, and good luck.






Iron Rich Foods for
Iron Deficiency Anemia

Written by: Gloria Tsang, RD
last updated: November 2004


For iron deficiency anemia in women, a diet with iron rich foods along with iron supplements is often recommended. Absorption of iron from food is influenced by multiple factors. One important factor being the form of the iron. Heme Iron, found in animal sources, is highly available for absorption. Non-heme iron on the other hand, found in vegetable sources, is less available. Iron rich foods of an iron rich diet are listed below:


Iron Rich Foods containing Heme Iron

Excellent Sources Good Sources

Clams
Pork Liver
Oysters
Chicken Liver
Mussels
Beef Liver

Beef
Shrimp
Sardines
Turkey



Iron Rich Foods containing Non-Heme Iron

Excellent Sources Good Sources

Enriched breakfast cereals
Cooked beans and lentils
Pumpkin seeds
Blackstrap Molasses

Canned beans
Baked potato with skin
Enriched pasta
Canned asparagus


Warning: Pregnant women should not eat liver because of its very high Vitamin A content. Large amounts of Vitamin A can be harmful to the baby.

The absorption of Non-heme iron can be improved when a source of heme iron is consumed in the same meal. In addition, the iron absorption-enhancing foods can also increase the absorption of non-heme iron. While some food items can enhance iron absorption, some can inhibit or interfere iron absorption. Avoid eating them with the iron-rich foods to maximize iron absorption.


Iron Absorption Enhancers Iron Absorption Inhibitors
Meat/fish/poultry
Fruits: Orange, Orange Juice, cantaloupe, strawberries, grapefruit etc
Vegetables: Broccoli, brussels sprouts, tomato, tomato juice, potato, green & red peppers
White wine
Red Wine, Coffee & Tea
Vegetables: Spinach, chard, beet greens, rhubarb and sweet potato
Whole grains and bran
Soy products







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Answer 2

Hi be careful of too much spinach... early assays of minerals (basically they burnt a pile of spinach and measured the amount of different components remaining) gave spinach a big tick for iron - BUT it is of low bio-availability as spinach has compounds that love to bind iron (and give it that dark green colour).
However I don't know whether this applies to silverbeet and/or english spinach!
Simplest solution is to cook with cast iron pots and pans, you'll pick up sufficient traces from the amounts scrapped off the pots!

Answer 3

Good question because I was wondering the same thing since yesterday..I was thinking about just going to see my doctor and ask him to prescribe me some Iron pills. Because I'm low on iron and I know this because I have horrible dark circles under my eyes caused by not getting enough iron.so yeah thats my master plan.

Answer 4

As many have stated increase the iron rich foods into your diet but it helps to add some form of Vitamin C to your diet to help increase/improve the absorption of the iron- especially with the non-heme iron sources.

Answer 5

Spinach is good - Iron pills - Liver (Beef, Pork or Chicken) has a lot of iron as well - Clam, Oysters, Mussels, Sardines, Shrimp if you like fish types of food - Turkey

Answer 6

Exercising every day as compared to evening

Answer 7

any time eating out look at to obtain a more healthy option

Answer 8

Ferrous sulfate of ferrous fumarate pills. Lots of red meat. Injections of iron.

Answer 9

Stay with a more lean protein/green veg diet

Answer 10

Steer clear of enhanced carbohydrates