iron rich foods

[chicagomum]

my dd (3.5 years old) saw the paediatrician yesterday and a pin orick test shows she's anaemic (we're waiting on a blood test result to see exactly how badly) he recommended a multi vit with iron, but i'd rather do it naturally as i'm not convinced how readily it is absorbed from supplements, but apart from spinach what other foods are good for iron (she eats veg, fruit and fish but dislikes meat)

brocolli
beetroot
red meat

spinach.

I was gonna say guinness then I saw it was for your DD

many cereals/grains, most green veg, dried fruits esp dates, prunes and apricots, liver (yuk), chickpeas (houmous), kidney beans, sunflower seeds, whole wheat pita bread.

Erm, spinach is no richer in iron than any other green vegetable. A nutritionist made a typo years ago and transposed the decimal point.

I like spinach!

You can have mine, then!

thank you!

isnt dark chocolate rich in iron? or carob?

I believe orange juice assists with the absorption of iron. (tea and coffee block its absorption.

chicagomum, if you do go down the supplement route I would highly recommend Floradix Liquid Iron Supplement . It's made of natural herbs and I found it absolutely brilliant - in fact my whole health improved when I took this. I seem to remember on the bottle that children can have it (in small doses) from age 1 but check before you buy (if you get it).

leafy green vegetables
meat

all eaten with orange juice as vitamin C helps body absorb iron

remember its a long process to increase iron in body .. will take a month at least

have you considered alternatives like flourodix .. check out whether it is suitable for children first though

dried apricots
sprouts
spinach
dark choc

Meat is best.

have just checked my bottle and it is suitable from age 1 (there's a dose for children age 1 to 5).

someone mentioned a "iron water" to me once that you can mix with o.j. to aid absorption that doesn't cause constipation anyone know what that is?

Spinach / Green veg, although high in iron is apparently badly absorbed by the body, so you actually intake very little of the iron. Apricots are much easier to absorb apparrently. Weetabix and many cereals have iron added. And of course the OJ trick!

as my iron level always crashes when i'm pg, (i'm pg with number four currently ) I'm always stuffing msyelf with iron foods, I'm 99%veggie (tho i do eat some fish) so dont eat red meat either,
i was told altho its harder to get the iron from fruit/veg/nuts etc its actually a better form of iron for your body to convert/use than meat iron.
ditto what lots of people have said
dark green veggies
spring greens
sardines
potatoes with skin on
chickpeas
lentils
kindey/butter beans
soy products
carob (holland & barret 'alternative chocolate' covered raisins and biscuits are coated in this)
dried fruits

hope thats some help

Hi Chicagomum - my ds age 3yrs3mths is also presumed to be anaemic at the moment - went to gp as his hair is dropping out - see other thread, he also looks quite pale (but I feel he always does!) and is complaining of being tired.

I was about to post on any fantastic iron rich recipes which he might eat (not suprising that he might be anaemic as all he eats is pasta/pasta/and more pasta!!!

He has been given an iron supplement (Medicine) for two weeks to see if he improves and if not will be referred to a paediatrician. I feel quite guilty at the moment as if there is nothing else wrong with him, it means I have caused this!

Having spinich and ricotta canneloni tonight.......will he eat it??????????? anyother recipe idea's gratefully received

try floradix for children its good stuff

Spinach doesn't contain more iron than any other green leaf veg, the whole Popeye story is rubbish. Beware of dried apricots, they cause constipation. Try chocolate in reasonnable dosage, lentils, red meat, brocoli, wheatabix, (enriched in iron), liver.

Ds has been back and forward to the hospital with low Ferritin levels - 16 - should be 250! Has an iron absorbtion prob apparently and is on a high Ferritin supplement on presciption. I tried Floradix before seeing the consultant and it helped but the hospital one has loads more ferritin.

We also saw the dietician at the hospital who checked what he ate and said it was not his diet, which was fine. She was quite dismissive of Iron rich foods and said that there isn't 'loads' in most foods that are supposed to be iron rich so we are making sure that he has Beef at least once a week.

Has to go to a Pediatric Hematology person at a different hospital when he is 8 and comes off the medicine - if he slips back into his old self, tired and no appetite

They dont't know why its happening though - hope your son gets more help than us!

fredly dried apricots do the opposite of cause constipation!!!

i'd also heard that veg sources are more easily absorbed than from meat altho isn't one of v highest sources liver (home made pate??)

Sophable, you've got constipation the right way but absorption the wrong way round! Haem iron from meat is easily absorbed (by most people); non-haem iron from veggie sources is harder to digest but aided by vit. c so that's why breakfast cereal plus orange juice is good source of iron.
I think the reason meaty iron is more easily absorbed is that it's in the animal's blood which adheres to red meat, basically. But could be wrong!

that's interesting. it is always vegans and veggies that tell me that meat nutrients are not well absorbed so.....