Health Corner - Page 1

Question:  If you take an iron pill and it makes you feel nauseous plus makes you constipated, does that mean you don't need iron, or you just can't utilize it?

This is from Shaklee which is a reputable company for health products.
I have never taken an iron supplement  and I'm pretty sure I don't get enough in my diet as I can't eat wheat or red meat, at least not very often.

Red Sable, you need to drink some OJ at the same time so the iron will be absorbed. Check this out:

http://www.ironrichfoods.info/articles/iron-absorption-enhancers/

Eat some spinach, call me in the morning. That'll be $50.00 please. LOL

Thank you BT, that was a great article! 

Ninja, even though spinach is a source of iron, according to Bee's aritcle it is also an iron absorption inhibitor?  That is if I understood that correctly...
I was glad to see fish and poultry are a good source of digestible iron, because that is mainly my diet. :)

    When taking Iron supplements, that is the nature of the beast....: )

Has a blood test shown you are low in iron?

More fiber, & fruits, veggies might help the constipation. Plus some exercise, but iron supplements do the things you describe. ;-(

 

I am so iron depleated it is rediculas,( the curse of being alabaster) couple that with bad low blood sugar.  I use a liquid vitamin supplement called Maltlevol (sp)( it in cheap and your mouth tastes like you have been sucking copper but it works!) it is the only vitamin i dont throw up.  Because it is liquid it is absorbed quickly. Any vitamin containing zinc can also make you feel nauseous .  

Red Sable sounds like you also need digestive enzymes....to help your body to process and get all of the vitamins from what you do eat...eating healthy wont do much if your body just dumps it out....i been taking those since i had my gallbladder out...it made a world of a difference...

I haven't had my blood checked lately, but just haven't had as much energy and was reading how women should be on an iron supplement until they were done (you know whating) so thought maybe it was a good idea to buy some.  I've taken it once and after what happened, I quit. 

LF, yes, I used to take enzymes all the time, and need to get on them again.

This health stuff is a pain. 
I blame my mother for stuffing solids in me at 3 wks of age, she has euchred my intestines and caused me lots of problems.

Same thing happened to me my first pregnancy, 17yrs ago. I couldn't stomach the iron pills, so I quit taking them. I looked up the 10 foods highest in iron and started adding more to my diet. It worked, I was no longer iron defficient and on my 3rd pregnancy now, I keep eating those foods and not had the Doc give me suppliments again.

http://www.rebuild-from-depression.com/blog/2007/10/iron_depression_and_the_postpa.html 

If you can't eat wheat that kinda sucks. I don't eat much red meat myself, I just don't like it but my saving grace was Malt-O-Meal for breakfast every morning. I also like spinach and love kidney beans and chick peas in my salads. I can't stomach any of the meat based iron ideas, but I eat alot of veggies in my diet and just adjusted towards the higher iron options. I have a friend that donates blood and before she goes, she always makes lentil soup to boost her iron levels, so she can pass the iron test and give.

Quinoa is a good alternative to rice. So far I just buy it premade from the deli at the healthfoods store, I'm currently looking for a few tasty recipes to try at home. Also boiled or steamed soybean pods aren't a bad snack. I suggest going out and buying 5-6 items on the list and try them, figure out what you can eat on a regular basis and don't buy again what is just too out there for your tastebuds.