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iron..what has iron in it??

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 3/14/2011 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
iron is low and dr wants me to up take my iron without having to take iron pills.. i know spinach does,,i don't do liver or red meat....any ideas??
Posted 3/14/2011 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
Beans, Vegetables (leafy ones I believe) seafood, egg yolks, iron fortified cereals.

I have low iron right now too. I actually had an Iron Infusion last week because I can't take iron pills because they make me vomit. I have a hard time eating anything right now so I have to get my blood tested again in a couple weeks and see if its up any.

Good Luck!
Posted 3/14/2011 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Still have those chicken livers I bought for the iron in the freezer--can't bring myself to eat em. Turkey, (dark meat has the most iron), is another good source. I eat rice chex for iron as well, they are gluten free.
Posted 3/14/2011 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
I can't take iron pills either. I try to eat iron fortified cereal. I eat Cheerios a lot, they don't bother my tummy and I think 1 serving has 45% RDA for Iron.
Posted 3/14/2011 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
Dark chocolate and guiness.
Posted 3/14/2011 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
Google heme vs non heme iron. Almost none of the iron in spinach and cheerios is absorbed - especially in CD patients. So you could eat a truckload of spinach and it won't help your iron much. Go with iron from animal sources such as liver. Why 'don't you do' liver?
Posted 3/14/2011 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Chicken livers also have a good iron source. I would think if you can't do iron supplements, that maybe you might be better off with an iron infusion. I got one about 2 years ago because of low iron, and within about 3 weeks I felt much better. Hugs!
Posted 3/14/2011 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
I DON'T do liver or other organ meats cause they are gross, and bother my gut. We'll see what the blood tests say.
Posted 3/14/2011 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
The other thing I do is make sure I am getting enough Vit C. Vitamin C helps iron absorption, especially for non-heme sources.
Posted 3/15/2011 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
Chicken livers weren't high on my favourite food list but I got over it when I decided I'd like to be able to walk to my kitchen without getting out of breath.
Posted 3/15/2011 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
My GI told me to take pregnancy vitamins with iron. They are much gentler on the system, so perhaps you can ask your doctor about that. There are also liquid iron formulas that are very gentle.

According to my GI, the reality is that food intake won't really help much in increasing certain types of low iron. My doctors look at what is causing the low iron (bleeding etc.) and then decide whether ultimately a transfusion might be needed to get the iron levels good. There are different types of low iron, and which you have is important to know.
Posted 3/15/2011 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
I have the same problem...a couple years ago I bought some old fashioned cast iron skillets. I use these to cook in now and it has made a big difference. good luck
Posted 3/15/2011 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
Females aged 19-50 need at least 18 mg per day according to the US government. You might need supplements.

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/iron/

The above link lets you know how much iron there is in different types of food, for instance:

3.5 ounces of chicken liver = 12.8 mg iron

3 ounces beef = 3.2 mg 

Posted 3/15/2011 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
njmom - I looked at that list a week or two ago. Thanks for posting it here.

Also, good tip on the vitamin C.

According to Arbys.com, their large roast beef sandwich has 40% of the RDA of iron.

I love fried chicken livers, but rarely make them for myself. Growing up, my family liked them, and my Mom would make them from time-to-time, but my wife is not a fan at all.

I noticed bread is fortified with some iron. Two slices of bread/toast and a 6oz yogurt in the morning gives me 12% RDA of iron + I've been drinking an Ensure each morning which has 25% RDA of iron.

So a day like today, I got 37% at breakfast, 40% at lunch, MIV with 100% midday, and I'll have a bowl of fortified cereal for snack tonight (another 30-40%) + another Enure at 25% - I'm hoping that can start to boost my levels up.
Posted 3/15/2011 8:14 PM (GMT 0)

Rider Fan said...
Chicken livers weren't high on my favourite food list but I got over it when I decided I'd like to be able to walk to my kitchen without getting out of breath.


Could you explain to me how you eat your chicken livers? I'd like to try and start eating them but I don't know exactly how to cook them.
Posted 3/16/2011 11:06 AM (GMT 0)
my sons iron was low and although he takes iron syrup i read that apples are a very good source of iron. x
Posted 3/16/2011 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
thanks all. ;)
Posted 3/16/2011 7:32 PM (GMT 0)

Poppysocks said...

Rider Fan said...
Chicken livers weren't high on my favourite food list but I got over it when I decided I'd like to be able to walk to my kitchen without getting out of breath.


Could you explain to me how you eat your chicken livers? I'd like to try and start eating them but I don't know exactly how to cook them.

Buy a container from the store and drain them in a collander.  Then fry em up until done (no more pink), in olive oil or margarine.  I ate 3-4 a day so I kept about 12 in the fridge and froze the rest for later.  If the taste isn't for you enjoy them with some ketchup!
Posted 4/1/2011 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
This helps with heme vs. non heme http://www.healthcastle.com/high-iron-diet.shtml

Then i'm not sure what you can handle, but:
Fortified dry cereals
Whole wheat or iron enriched bread with smooth peanut butter and jelly
Burritos
Mild chili con carne
Gingerbread cookies made with molasses
Pork and beans
Hamburgers made with lean beef
Dried apricots, served in iron-fortified cereal or oatmeal, or as a cookie ingredient
Split pea soup and crackers
Meatball sandwiches

Also, this site tells you the mg of iron in a serving of high-iron foods http://www.momswhothink.com/diet-and-nutrition/foods-high-in-iron.html
Posted 4/1/2011 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
Shrimp and tuna are also soures of iron if you can't do red meats. I believe beets are also. Again, it is a good idea to determine if it is bleeding or malabsorption that is causing the problem. I make chicken liver paste. Cook the livers, then put them in the blender with some chicken stock, melted butter and garlic powder. It spreads on Ritz crackers and I don't feel like I'm eating livers.
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