My husband and I went shopping at WalMart on Saturday. We saw the American Red Cross Bloodmobile in front of the store and decided to give blood. I haven’t donated in about 10 years and was a bit nervous. I’ve always been afraid of needles. This is a worthwhile cause so I decided to brave it out.
I didn’t go any farther than the prick in the finger. When they dropped my blood into the solution, it popped right to the top. (it’s suppose to drop to the bottom} They ran another test which ended with the same results…my iron is too low making me anemic.
I was trying to figure out why my mom’s and husband’s were all right and not mine. I was reading the pamphlet they gave me. It stated: If you do not eat meat, fish, or poultry, avoid drinking tea with meals. Tea contains tannins which will decrease the absorption of iron. Legumes (peas or beans, for example) also contain compounds that decrease the absorption of iron. Vegetarians should eat these foods with a source of vitamin C.
I saw my problem right away. All the tea and beans I consume are making the difference. I went and bought some multi-vitamins with iron. I’ll see if this makes a difference.
Trying to balance foods/drinks while trying to lose weight isn’t so easy.
Wow thank you for that info
I only derink herble tea only
See your doctor. Iron supplements are notoriously low in iron–ironically. Yuck.Yuck. My daughter had Crohn’s disease and was anemic. She had to go on a special regimen to regain her normal levels of iron. It took supplements, diet and time (mostly time) to get back to “normal” and she was just average anemia. See a Dr. just to be on the safe side.
That’s extremely helpful because just yesterday I tried to donate blood and was deferred for the same reason. I drink tea with almost every meal. :/
I had problems with low-iron while pregnant. I also drink a lot of tea (green and ooolong) and at the time I was also vegan (no meat, no dairy) so I consumed only plant-based foods. My awesome midwife advised me to begin taking Blackstrap Molasses to help increase my iron. I took a spoonful or two every day with a large glass of water, juice, or soymilk. It really helped me. My iron stayed at healthy levels since I began taking it. If you read on the label of most Blackstrap Molasses bottles it says on there the health benefits – it’s also a good way to get your calcium and potassium and also has vit. b6. It’s good stuff.
When my kids eating habits have gone offtrack (too many slumber parties with friends or spending time with grandma who indulges them with junk food and soda) I now give my kids a spoonful of blackstrap molasses, too. I don’t do this regularly because too much iron can be bad for kids… but when they are not eating properly and have gone a day or two without a proper home-cooked balanced meal I feel it helps them. They don’t mind the taste – it’s super sweet.