How do you keep your energy level up? I am taking iron supplements but I don't know how long it's supposed to take before I feel like they're working. I know I need to buy some foods with iron so maybe that will help. Any other ideas? My level is really low...it's 19 and the the normal is considered 70 (the range is something like 10-150) I like red meat but I don't eat it that much because of the fat/cholest.
I have had anemia, and sometimes when they test me, I come up slightly anemic. I hate hate hate taking iron supplements, but I have had to. I like red meat but I hate to cook so I don't eat much of it either. :haha: So some other things my doc told me to eat were: Peanuts or peanut butter, eggs, spinich and other dark leafy greens, beans (ick) and raisins. I ate a lot of spinich salad, and I also started taking a multi-vitamin that supposedly helps my body absorb the iron supplements better. I suspect you have a list like this but just thought I would mention what I ate. When I first was told I had anemia, and after I started taking the supplements like I was supposed to, I felt my energy level start to rise in a couple of weeks. I also really tried to keep a good sleep schedule and eat when I was supposed to and not skip meals like I do sometimes when I am busy. Anyway, I hope you start to feel better very soon.
I had severe anemia and taking iron supplements made me sick - diarrhea and nausea. My doctor said that my system doesn't absorb iron very well and that caused the anemia. I had to take iron injections to build my iron back up. Talk to your doctor and if he/she isn't very helpful, find someone who is, that's what I had to do. Good luck, I know how frustrating it is not having any energy.
I'm just close enough to the border that every time I try to give blood, they have to do the finger test 3 times. Sometimes I squeek through, sometimes not.
I'm on a protein-restricted diet, and I also have to avoid red meat specifically due to gout. So . . . I went from slightly anemic to extremely anemic in a short time. I ended up getting four rounds of Procrit shots, and then I was able to maintain with iron supplements and diet.
I've had anemia in the past, though not currently. I would have to take iron supplements for a time. I've started eating peanut butter sandwiches for breakfast and lunch (also good for losing weight!). I can't give blood either because my levels are never high enough.
On and off my whole life - I've been told that certain food combos are good - eggs help absorb iron so I was told to add hard boiled eggs to spinach salads. ...I forget the other combos right now. I had never heard peanut butter - I love that stuff! oh yeah, and dairy stops you from absorbing iron. So don't drink too much milk. I cut waay back on the ice cream.
The slow release iron pills don't bother your stomach as much. That's what I take. And I can tell from day to day. If I forget to take one, I have zero energy. It is controlled through the pills so I don't have to take iron shots. I also eat a lot of meat now. I didn't for a long time, sometimes going a whole month or two without. I wonder if the lack of meat triggered something. I take vitamins with iron...not all of them have it or have very small amounts.
Well right now I'm taking 3 iron pills a day so that's 75 (mg?) and now I just need to make sure I'm eating the right foods. I've felt lethargic for awhile and sometimes have to push myself to do normal things that might wear me out! I'm not even 30 yet so I want to get this figured out.
If you are a beer drinker.. I'll suggest Guiness.. a pint a day will add lots of iron to your system. My Grandpa used it insted of iron tablets and his doctor approved it.
I found out Monday that I am anemic. I had an episode, which I thought was a panic attack, but after having various test done to determine the cause, I was told that I am anemic. I am a vegetarian, so eating red meat is not an option. I'm really not interested in taking the iron pills suggested by my doctor, but I guess I'm going to have to if I don't find enough foods that I would like to eat.:unsure:
If you do take the iron supplements (Mine are the Thorne brand) make sure you take them with Vit. C to help with the absorption. I've been googling iron rich foods but I'm wondering how long it'll take to get my numbers back to normal? What is your iron number?
I don't remember my numbers. I went to the emergency room after the episode and they told me. Then I went to my doctor for a follow up and she told me , but I really don't remember. My mind was so focused on how I could fix this without taking a pill twice a day.
I had iron defecient (sp?) anemia a while ago. I took iron supplements. I don't believe I have it anymore. I never even really knew or felt like I had it or less energy...
My church is having a blood drive, and Brian asked me whether I would donate this time around. I reminded him that at this point in time by blood has had WAY too much radiation; it probably glows in the dark.... not the type of thing we want to give to someone sick!!!
chicken/beef liver 8.8 10 grams cooked beef 5.5 15 grams cooked turkey meat 4.8 20 grams sardines 4.0 25 grams tuna fish in oil 1.2 1/2 can cooked chicken 0.8 1 drumstick/leg or 1/8 of the chicken REMEMBER: IRON FROM RAW FOOD IS ABSORBED BETTER! Food Miligrams of iron per 100 g food food portion containing 1 mg of iron pure tehina/tehini 9.0 2 teaspoons sesame halva 6.0 15 grams tehina sald or prepared tehini 4.9 2 tablespoons oat flakes 4.5 2 tablespoons (before cooking) almonds 4.4 15 pieces dried figs 4.0 2 pieces cooked spinach 3.5 1/ cup humous 2.6 3 tablespoons cooked garbanzo beans 2.4 1/4 cup cooked dry beans 2.3 1/4 cup cooked lentils 2.2 1/3 cup dried dates 1.7 4 dates brown bread 1.7 2 slices cooked green peas 1.4 1/2 cup cooked potato 1.4 1/2 potato Other Foods With High Levels of Iron Vegetables and fruit Servings and iron content Collard greens, kale, mustard, beet, or turnip greens 1/2 cup contains 2 mg Cooked peas 1 cup contains 3 mg Spinach 1 cup contains 4 mg Dried apricots 1 cup contains 7.2 mg Dried peaches 1 cup contains 9.6 mg Prunes 1 cup contains 3.8 mg Raisins 1 cup contains 5.1 mg Beans Servings and iron content Kidney, lima, navy, black, pinto, soy beans, and lentils 1 cup contains 5.0 mg Iron Fortified Whole Grains Servings and iron content Cereals, breads, enriched rice, and pasta 1 cup contains 1-16 mgs Other Servings and iron content Egg
