17 comments (Add your own)

1. sandy wrote:

How can I avoid iron-deficiency in a vegan diet?I've been doing some research lately, and for more reasons than I care to explain here, I'm seriously considering switching to a vegan diet. I am very concerned about nutrient deficiencies. I thought maybe I would just become a lacto-ovo vegitarian, but honestly.

Human Health

Thu, April 28, 2011 @ 12:29 AM

2. home health wrote:

Which of the following is false regarding a vegetarian diet?
a. Even if a vegetarian eats a balanced diet, she has more iron deficiencies than meat eaters
b. The diet relies on plants sources for most of the nutrients the body needs
c. Vegetarians tend to get enough calcium from products like tofu

please tell me

THANKS

Thu, April 28, 2011 @ 12:32 AM

3. Nancy wrote:

I have a B-12 and Iron defieiceny and recieve monthly B-12 injections and ferritin infusions as needed. I have developed some significant memory issues and wonder if this may be associated with the iron deficinies?

Sun, May 1, 2011 @ 5:31 PM

4. Nancy wrote:

So how much iron does one absorb in non-haeme iron when they have vitamin C with that?

Mon, May 2, 2011 @ 11:08 PM

5. Cheryl Garrison wrote:

Generally vegetarians become iron deficient because they consume foods or substances that lower the bio-availability of iron so that the iron cannot be absorbed well. Some vegans might need an iron supplement to boost ferritin levels. We have a handout called "Boost Your Ferritin" that describes which foods and substances to avoid or include at mealtime. I encourage you to download it from our library under helpful forms and handouts: http://www.irondisorders.org/forms/
B12 deficiencies are not easy to detect in some cases; high folate levels for example can mask a B12 deficiency. The UMMA test is one that can detect B12 deficiencies in spite of folate levels. However, B12 is water soluble--though it is stored in the liver--you can take B12 tablets under the tongue for a while to see if this makes a difference.
Weakness and fatigue are consequences of iron deficiency, but these symptoms are not specific to iron deficiency. Low thyroid function or other abnormal hormone levels can also cause weakness and fatigue.
Talk with your doctor about these possibilities on your next visit.

C. Garrison, Executive Director, Iron Disorders Institute

Sat, May 28, 2011 @ 10:21 AM

6. LeJuene wrote:

Hello, I recently had my first IV Iron infusion as I have been diagnosed with severe iron deficiency anemia. My latest iron saturation level was 2! I would like to know if there is any truth to herbal tea or tea in general inhibiting iron absorption. I like to drink 3-4 cups of tea (16oz) a day. Green tea/black tea mostly.
Thanks,

Mon, June 20, 2011 @ 8:36 PM

7. Dorothy wrote:

I have been anemic for a couple years. About the time our town started a big deal about spraying pesticides all the time. I live in a farm area and lots of herbicides are also sprayed.

In my desire to find out what was causing my low iron count, I typed in pesticide poisoning in the web browser. WOW I nearly fell off my chair. In one article, I found that a delayed affect of these poisons cause anemia.

Of course, since these are designed to kill, it isn't likely the companies will say they will also do a number on humans. In fact, the companies making these products do their own testing and get to state that the product is SAFE.

My doctors decided we just had to do a colonoscopy because even in a farm community they seem to have no idea the environment can be a cause of something.
All that did was prove I was right. Nothing wrong in the colon. Well, that is good, maybe they can think up another high priced test.

Now I have to figure out how to keep my iron level from decreasing. Mayo Clinic has an article and it is called aplastic anemia. This means the poisons get into the blood and then damage the red cell producing areas of the bone marrow.

Well, hope this helps someone.

Tue, July 12, 2011 @ 8:50 AM

8. herbal products wrote:

Nice, to see this great news! Thanks for sharing this post!

Wed, August 24, 2011 @ 4:04 AM

9. Donna Conte wrote:

Interesting to me that black strap molasses is recommended as a high source for iron, but it also has calcium. Calcium inhibits absorption of iron. Is this not true in the molasses?

Thu, September 1, 2011 @ 7:19 AM

10. rhondasue wrote:

I just had some of this on my cream of wheat. Yuk!

Fri, October 7, 2011 @ 12:29 PM

11. jalal wrote:

chem

Wed, December 28, 2011 @ 1:19 PM

12. jalal wrote:

Wed, December 28, 2011 @ 1:19 PM

13. GSP Jennifer wrote:

Dorothy,

I grew up in a farming community too, where we'd watch the planes spray the crops just 30 feet from our house. My dad sprayed herbicides and pesticides too much also. I had a heavy metals test done, and it showed I was okay (phew!). I had increased lead levels from the pipes in my 100 year-old house, but not at an "elevated" level, which means a level necessitating chelation therapy. My doc referred me to a naturopath she trusted, and the naturopath helped me with the test. You might want to talk to your doctors about a heavy metals test if you haven't done one already.

Thu, January 5, 2012 @ 12:04 AM

14. Jessica wrote:

Hello,
I suffer from severe iron deficiency anemia and I just got it somewhat under control, and I was told from my doctor that I was slightly under weight, but I gained 12 pounds in a 2-3 week time frame. Now my doctor is telling me I'm at a risk for diabetes and now wants me on a completely vegan diet. How will this affect my iron and aniema? plus my weight gain is mainly due to 2 new medications that I was recently put on. What am I supposed to do? I really don't have a ethical reason to be vegan and I like eating dairy and meats regularly.
Jessica W.

Fri, March 2, 2012 @ 5:53 PM

15. Jessica wrote:

Hello,
I suffer from severe iron deficiency anemia and I just got it somewhat under control, and I was told from my doctor that I was slightly under weight, but I gained 12 pounds in a 2-3 week time frame. Now my doctor is telling me I'm at a risk for diabetes and now wants me on a completely vegan diet. How will this affect my iron and aniema? plus my weight gain is mainly due to 2 new medications that I was recently put on. What am I supposed to do? I really don't have a ethical reason to be vegan and I like eating dairy and meats regularly.
Jessica W.

Fri, March 2, 2012 @ 5:54 PM

16. Susan R wrote:

Has anyone researched removing iron from drinking water from a home well? Is there a counter top brand that specifically states that it removes iron? None of the brands I've looked at state iron as a contaminant that is removed from their pitchers. I know we have iron in our water and I would really like to reduce/remove as much as possible!

Thu, April 26, 2012 @ 5:49 PM

17. peter metcalf wrote:

Questions: If I want to increase aborbable iron in my diet, I would like a difinitive answer to the question of molasses, which some bottles list as having 15% MDR and others only 4%. Black strap vs. other kinds is also a question. The bottles do not explain in their labels. Molasses is sometimes labeled as having more calcium than iron...thus nullifying the iron value of molasses. If anyone has a good answer, am appreciative. Where else to go if not to this webpage? I eat a healthy iron rich diet, soaking beans and grains and forsaking spinach in order to reduce phytic acid. Still, I would like to know the most concentrated food sources of iron.

B-12: I have been vegan for about 16 years. Sublingual B-12 was completely effective within 3 weeks whereas injections were not effective at all, for a friend who was not vegan or vegetarian, but nonetheless had major symptoms of B-12 deficiency. He just did not absorb it well from an ordinary upper middle class diet, with probably very little junk food. My blood test indicates 25% more B-12 than the upper limit of the recommendations for normal B-12 on that test. I eat fruits and veggies (organic) without washing since soil (what component I don't recall - could be mirorganisms) is a source of B-12, but I also take sublingual lozenges that provide (so says the label) depending on mg/lozenge, 16,000% to 50,000% MDR, which surely accounts for my good level of B-12. Such lozenges are relatively cheap also. If you are vegan, there may be some that are suitable for vegans and others that are not, as will many supplements.
Thank you for an authoritative or expert answer on the molasses question.

Sat, April 28, 2012 @ 3:37 PM

Add a New Comment

Your Name:

Your Email/URL (Optional):

Your Comment:

Enter the code you see below:

 

Comment Guidelines: No HTML is allowed. Off-topic or inappropriate comments will be edited or deleted. Thanks.