Iron deficiency

Hello there, I take iron supplements because of a non-anemic but quite serious iron deficiency. My doctor directed me to take five 9mg capsules daily- other vitamins are included but there is 9mg of iron in each pill. I have a hard time swollowing that many pills in one day- it hurts my stomach, i take them when i eat- but it's still an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach.

Is there some high iron foods I could add to my daily diet so i didnt have to take so many pills??

Thanks for the help.

I also was wondering if the lack of iron in my system would affect muscle growth or anything like that... Thanks again !!

from a google search "foods high in iron"

Foods high in iron
•Liver and other meats
•Seafood
•Dried fruits like apricots, prunes and raisins
•Nuts
•Beans, especially lima beans
•Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli
•Blackstrap molasses
•Whole grains
•Iron-fortified breads and cereals (check the label)

Thanks brentyboy- I'm sure i could have googled it myself but i never know what to trust on the internet, thats why i like this site, lots of people with knowledge and experience.

Thanks again

Most females under 50, need about 14-15mg's Iron a day, as you mentruate it. Men need around half that.

Whole-grain is actually the best type, for what is known as Non-Heam, (plant matter Iron). Heam in Meat, Fish and poultry is better though, as Heam has around a 15-20% absorption rate, Non-heam is only 5-10%, but Whole-grain is highest out of Non-heam, as it's fortified with Iron. Plus Whole-grain has B Vitamin fortification, which helps, as B Vits help to break down food.

You would be wise to consider things like Beans and Nuts increase also, as they contain Copper and one function of Copper is to help with the utilisation and storage of Iron.

Iron boosting substances also include Amino Acids in Proteins, Vit C, and Capsicum.

Iron deterrants include Caffeine and Tannine, so avoid Tea, Coffee and things like caffeinated energy drinks, including ones listed with Guarana, as that's a Caffeine carrier, and both Caffeine and Tannine, (Tannic Acid), interfere with Iron Absorption.

Calcium can I believe, have a small negative interaction with Iron, but as you need that to assist with Bone development, don't skimp on your Calcium foods. Dairy, Soy, Nuts etc etc.

Hopefully that makes sense.

Thanks for the heads up Boss... I'm a real coffee junkie

Do you know why it is that caffine affects iron??

Thanks for the reply, it's lots of help !!

I think it just kind of blocks it, or gets in the way. I don't know Caffeines exact "Mechanism of Action", as it could be called, regards Iron, but one thing Caffeine does do is constrict Bloodvessels, which for however long that effect lasts, will cause issues like reduced oxygen levels to cells, tissues and Organs.

So I would strongly adivse you to avoid Coffee, or wean yourself off it. Iron helps with Erythrocyte, (Red Blood Cell), levels, but any substance like Caffeine, which actually has no positive effect that I know if, would be better severely limited or expelled from your food and drink intake.

I did not know any of that thats aweful, thanks for the help!!

I'll let all my coffee drinking buddies know the negative affects ...

Anyways... Thanks again for the help, it's really apreciated

Tell them that Caffeine can also cause some people Heartburn and Stomahc Ulcers.

You can get uncaffeinated Coffee. I believe one such drink is Redbush, but most coffees, even Decaff, which is 1/5 the strength of a regular Cup, is still caffeinated to some degree, and some say the way the method used to decaffeinate the Coffee is not a good way to treat the product.

I don't know about that, as I have never drunk the stuff. The look is bad enough, but sometimes the smell makes we want to gag. Same with Tea on both counts. Barf City .

Yeah but you're a brit. My stepmother is convinced it's because you don't know what "real" coffee is. My sister's husband turned her on to instant coffee. Man and I thought regular was bad... barffff

I think it just kind of blocks it, or gets in the way. I don't know Caffeines exact "Mechanism of Action", as it could be called, regards Iron, but one thing Caffeine does do is constrict Bloodvessels, which for however long that effect lasts, will cause issues like reduced oxygen levels to cells, tissues and Organs.

So I would strongly adivse you to avoid Coffee, or wean yourself off it. Iron helps with Erythrocyte, (Red Blood Cell), levels, but any substance like Caffeine, which actually has no positive effect that I know if, would be better severely limited or expelled from your food and drink intake.

Polyphenols bind to nonheme iron preventing it from being of any use to you. They are found in teas coffees.. lotsa places, think: tannins. If you are having Iron issues and still need yo' coffee, just do your iron thing about 3 hours before you do your caffeine thing (:

After reading about the negative affects of coffee i think i will be cuting down tremendously, everyone here is a coffee freak, its what keeps people alive pretty much, lol.... my mom just told me it would stunt my growth, i thought the warm yummy cup of deliciousness was worth it tho ...

anyways, thanks for the reply

Stunt growth. I doubt that.

Presumably then "real" Cofee, is that Weasel and Civet stuff, where Weasels and Civets eat the Beans, poop them, then Western conglomerates ship it to the country you live in, ready for you to make Coffee, and you do so in the sure and certain knowledge, you are helping impoverished Farmers, from places like Thailand and Vietnam, to have more prosperous lives

molasses is very good for iron deficiency (my experience) , you can use it instead of sugar or take 2 tablespoons daily when you wake up

but still the question does iron deficiency affect muscle growth?

Iron deficiency will interfere with your body's ability to effectively transport oxygen (puts the 'heme' in hemeglobin, eh?). If you have an iron deficiency I would suggest you manage that before worrying about muscle growth.

I was put on iron supplementation once, pharmacist never mentioned coffee inhibiting the absorption, isn't that their job ???..tho seems I might be put back on it, so good to know, think is only one like was 1 300 mg pill ( palafer ), so I can squeeze it btwn coffee's !! The only bad vice I continue to do is coffee, or well expresso really, which is supposed to be less caffeine than reg coffee..so they say..Ive located the iron pill site, may as well read up on it