foods and drinks to increase iron levels

[lorisparkle]

So my iron levels are low and whilst I am waiting for a scan the dr suggested using diet to help get my iron levels up. Alongside meat what other foods and drinks are good and what should I avoid. I am particularly looking for an alternative for tea and coffee.

Pulses and green leafy veg, anything from the cabbage family as well. Also dried fruit (raisins, apricots etc), nuts and seeds. Avoid consuming with dairy and ensure you ingest some vitamin C alongside.

So maybe lentil soup with a tomato salad, or chick pea and cauliflower curry with a fruit salad for pudding.

And yes no tea, coffee or red wine within half an hour if your meal. Or indeed anything else that contains tannins.

Thank you, so is it best to avoid coffe, tea etc altogether or just keeping them separate? Also do I need to reduce dairy or just avoid at same time? Thanks again

Keeping them separate should be sufficient but if you see no improvement try cutting them out altogether. Dairy you can eat but separate from iron rich meals, like tea and coffee, as it can hinder absorption. It's not normally a huge problem but when you are trying to optimise absorption best to keep it separate.

There's calcium in broccoli, cauliflower, green leafy veg, almonds, fish like sardines etc, so if you eat more of those to help with your iron you won't be lacking calcium.

Many thanks for all your help, I am hoping the anaemia is due to a crap diet rather than anything more serious!

Are you having supplements? It's not usual to address anaemia theough diet alone unless you are eg vegan/strict veggie.

Up the vitamin C, if helps with iron absorption.

Try spatone liquid iron. You can get it in Boots or supermarkets on 3 for 2 offers. It's much more gentle on the stomach than iron tablets.

Guinness!

And Marmite (though probably not at the same time)

Guiness and spinach and yes to vitamin C also.

Following on from Marmite... A good old mug of Bovril

Thanks, they are waiting on further tests before prescribing iron tablets so the dr recommended upping the iron in my diet whilst I wait.

I love marmite so that will be easy to add!

I eat steak with oregano and lemon juice. This I a Greek thing but it helped me up my iron a lot.
Lots of orange juice.
Lentils.

Kiwi
Liver
But supplements work best as they are quicker and you can then maintain on diet