Ive Found Spinach

[taz sharratt]

i have chronic anemia, have had it for 10 years and have never got rid of it, i dont eat red meat so have been really trying to fing some high in iron things to eat that of course gluten-free and milk free and taiste nice. well i thought ide bite the bullet and taiste spinach - wow i was suprised- i like it- didnt think i would. i have it a lot now and am wondering if this gonna make any dent in the enemia and how long for it to work so i acn start to feel a bit more with it, like i have more energy, im so tired.

[queenofhearts]

I'm in the same boat, no red meat (I just can't stomach it) but anemic. I eat all sorts of dark greens; arugula is my favorite but you have to like strong flavors. Raisins are also supposed to be good, so I eat loads. Also beans. Problem is it is all hard to absorb if you still have damage to the villi. I'm hoping my eating habits will do me more good as I heal.

Leah

[Lauren M]

Do you take an iron supplement? I was anemic for years and years (despite taking an iron supplement daily), but when I went gluten-free, my iron levels finally became normal. The one thing that my nutrionist told me is to make sure you eat vitamin C with your iron, that it makes the iron more absorbable. So, an example would be spinach lasagna w/marinara sauce (tomatoes have vitamin C), or a spinach omelette with a glass of orange juice.

Yum, I love spinach too!

- Lauren

[taz sharratt]

I'm in the same boat, no red meat (I just can't stomach it) but anemic. I eat all sorts of dark greens; arugula is my favorite but you have to like strong flavors. Raisins are also supposed to be good, so I eat loads. Also beans. Problem is it is all hard to absorb if you still have damage to the villi. I'm hoping my eating habits will do me more good as I heal.

Leah

me to leah, i eat sprouts ( yuk- forced) and love peas but not sure if they are any good on the iron score anyway. what is arugula? never heard of that one before.

[queenofhearts]

me to leah, i eat sprouts ( yuk- forced) and love peas but not sure if they are any good on the iron score anyway. what is arugula? never heard of that one before.

Peas are a good source of iron. They're actually very nutritious, better for you than green beans for instance.

Arugula is a green leafy veggie, almost an herb really because it has a very intense flavor. It's a member of the mustard family. It's also known as rocket or roquette. I adore it but I do like strong flavors. I grow it in my garden, so I can pick my own Fall through Spring, but I buy it from Whole Foods in the Summer-- it likes cool weather, as does spinach, & our hot summers make it bolt.

Leah

[taz sharratt]

Do you take an iron supplement? I was anemic for years and years (despite taking an iron supplement daily), but when I went gluten-free, my iron levels finally became normal. The one thing that my nutrionist told me is to make sure you eat vitamin C with your iron, that it makes the iron more absorbable. So, an example would be spinach lasagna w/marinara sauce (tomatoes have vitamin C), or a spinach omelette with a glass of orange juice.

Yum, I love spinach too!

- Lauren

i use to but every time i try to take it up again i get very bad constapation, really bad!!! and mt tummy is swollen and feel really unwell. ive taken floridix in the past but tht made me ill too. i allways have vit c and take it with my calcium. thanx , can you reccomend any other iron supplement or iron rich food? be really helpfull.

Peas are a good source of iron. They're actually very nutritious, better for you than green beans for instance.

Arugula is a green leafy veggie, almost an herb really because it has a very intense flavor. It's a member of the mustard family. It's also known as rocket or roquette. I adore it but I do like strong flavors. I grow it in my garden, so I can pick my own Fall through Spring, but I buy it from Whole Foods in the Summer-- it likes cool weather, as does spinach, & our hot summers make it bolt.

Leah

ive heard something like that is it like a cabbage or a lettuce? sorry to sound dumb but in the uk its not in any main stores here. ide love to give it a try.

[Guest southgoingzax]

I highly recommend Ultimate Iron, by Enzymatic Therapy. I was anemic for years before diagnosis, and all of the iron supplements I had to take made me feel ill (hot flashes, chills, upset stomach) and made me very constipated. This supplement DID NOT do that at all! It is from liquid liver fractions, so if you are vegan/vegetarian, it may not be for you, but I would consider altering your perspective on foods at least until you get well...I was vegan until I was diagnosed, and I fought for a long time against eating meat, but ultimately I decided my physical well-being, at the moment, has to be prioritized over my moral objections. Anyway, I found this supplement to work the best for me - no side effects at all.

Also, you should try to cook all your food in cast-iron skillets, as some of the iron form the pan leaches into the food.

Here's the website for the iron supplement:

Open Original Shared Link

good luck,

zax

[DingoGirl]

HI Taz,

I was severely anemic too, took iron supplements twice a day and I think I'm cured. I do eat meat, but only perhaps 2 or 3 times a month. I have read in teh past - and this will need to be confirmed by one of our more science-minded members here, that the oxalic acid in spinach binds to the iron, making it less absorbtive. OF course, I can't verify that currently....and I encourage you to eat lots of spinach.....did you buy the fresh, in a bag? I like to saute/steam it lightly in a little olive oil, w/ some salt adn fresh garlic. Yum! But definitely look into the supplements....

[aaascr]

I've been eating spinach nearly every day for 2 years

(along with my vitamin C) and when tested still had anemia

just recently. I use floravital iron supplement - doesn't constipate

nor have anything I'm allergic to in it .

Hopefully this will help improve - I feel better at any rate.

[BRUMI1968]

The oxalates in spinach do bind the iron, from what I understand (also not a scientist - but I am obsessed with food). Cooking the spinach decreases the oxalates - but you don't want to overcook it.

I sautee some shallot or leek in olive oil

add spinach (washed/cut, etc.)

stir around with tongs for literally about 1.5 minutes or until just wilted

squeeze lemon

Good luck!

p.s. arugula is yummy!!!!!!

[tarnalberry]

yep, oxalates in the spinach bind to the iron and make it less bioavailable. make sure to have vitamin C (an orange or some pineapple or kiwi or other good source) whenever having something with iron, to increase the absorbtion of iron.

other good sources of iron:

• edamame (soy beans) (1/2 cup = 4.4mg)
  
• pumpkin seeds (1 oz = 4.2mg)
  
• canned white beans (1/2 cup = 3.9mg)
  
• cooked lentils (1/2 cup = 3.3mg)
  
• dried peaches (1/2 cup = 3.2mg)
  
• edible podded peas (sugar snap, snow) (1 cup = 3.1mg)
  
• canned kidney beans (1/2 cup = 2.6mg)
  
• canned garbanzo beans (1/2 cup = 2.4mg)
  
• canned pumpkin (1/2 cup = 1.7mg)
  
• cashews (1 oz = 1.7mg)
  
• baked sweet potato w/ skin (1 cup = 1.4mg)
  
• buckwheat groats (1 cup = 1.3mg)
  
• dates (1/2 cup = 0.9mg)
  
• flax seed (2tbsp = 0.8mg)
  
• raspberries (1/2 cup = 0.4mg)
  
• tomato (1 medium = 0.3mg)
  

[jennyj]

A good source of info is the Iron Disorders Institute. They have brochures they will send you that tell you good iron foods and what foods NOT to eat together because there are two types of iron in foods and one can cancel the other out. They are wonderful people to talk to.

[covsooze]

Taz, I've found iron irritates my stomach a lot too. there is a slow release iron available on the NHS called Ferrograd, which I've been taking for a while now and which seems to be much better. Doesn't seem to trouble me with constipation. Have you tried black pudding? I went really anaemic when I was pregnant (before my diagnosis) and needed to bring my hmg up really quick so ate lots of black pudding Can't stand even the smell of it now, but it did the trick

[penguin]

There's a really gentle iron supplement called floravital, it's german, so you might be able to find it in the UK as well. It's a liquid and gives my extra sensitive stomach no problems.

[taz sharratt]

yep, oxalates in the spinach bind to the iron and make it less bioavailable. make sure to have vitamin C (an orange or some pineapple or kiwi or other good source) whenever having something with iron, to increase the absorbtion of iron.

other good sources of iron:

• edamame (soy beans) (1/2 cup = 4.4mg)
  
• pumpkin seeds (1 oz = 4.2mg)
  
• canned white beans (1/2 cup = 3.9mg)
  
• cooked lentils (1/2 cup = 3.3mg)
  
• dried peaches (1/2 cup = 3.2mg)
  
• edible podded peas (sugar snap, snow) (1 cup = 3.1mg)
  
• canned kidney beans (1/2 cup = 2.6mg)
  
• canned garbanzo beans (1/2 cup = 2.4mg)
  
• canned pumpkin (1/2 cup = 1.7mg)
  
• cashews (1 oz = 1.7mg)
  
• baked sweet potato w/ skin (1 cup = 1.4mg)
  
• buckwheat groats (1 cup = 1.3mg)
  
• dates (1/2 cup = 0.9mg)
  
• flax seed (2tbsp = 0.8mg)
  
• raspberries (1/2 cup = 0.4mg)
  
• tomato (1 medium = 0.3mg)
  

wow this is helpful, i eat the pumkin seeds loads of them,lentils,flax seed,cashews and tomatoes. im doing something right but its not enough obviously as im still enemic. i think im gonna have to wait a little while longer for the viiai to heal so the iron can be absorbed properly. oh and carry on with the spinach.

There's a really gentle iron supplement called floravital, it's german, so you might be able to find it in the UK as well. It's a liquid and gives my extra sensitive stomach no problems.

thanx i will deffinatly look for that one.

Taz, I've found iron irritates my stomach a lot too. there is a slow release iron available on the NHS called Ferrograd, which I've been taking for a while now and which seems to be much better. Doesn't seem to trouble me with constipation. Have you tried black pudding? I went really anaemic when I was pregnant (before my diagnosis) and needed to bring my hmg up really quick so ate lots of black pudding Can't stand even the smell of it now, but it did the trick

i will ask my doctor for that one, she gave me something that sounds like that buti will check it. black puddding ( heave) ( yuk) i dont eat red meat which is part of the problem for me, i tried steak the other week and altho i didnt feel sick it didnt really have a lot of flavour but was too chewy abd after a while made me feel sick. thanx tho.

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

I love spinach (fresh not frozen) in a pan with some olive oil, minced or diced garlic, salt and pepper.

MMMMMMMMM Spinach!!!

[marciab]

I love spinach too. Lightly sautee onions in EVOO, add spinach, fresh lemon juice and salt. Yum !!

And I posted a spinach/cheese casserole recipe on the casserole thread. I've converted a lot of spinach haters with that recipe.

I had to put meat back into my diet to fix the iron problem too. I am currently into breaded and fried cubed buffalo meat. Definitely an acquired taste But, buffalo has 40% of the rda needed in iron in 1/4 lb. I am amazed at some of the stuff I eat nowadays ....

marcia

[BRUMI1968]

I am thinking about the buffalo too. Right now I'm buying grass-fed beef from a local farm - and it's pretty easy here to get organical and nicely treated buffalo meat - both are so bloody expensive. But I think it's worth it due to nutrition - and not forcing an animal to eat things they can't digest (cows and corn).

Maybe I'll try the buffalo, though I think my iron is fine. I am bruised to high heaven right now, though.

[queenofhearts]

ive heard something like that is it like a cabbage or a lettuce? sorry to sound dumb but in the uk its not in any main stores here. ide love to give it a try.

It's really more like an herb in its growth habit-- several leaves on a stem once it gets past the baby green stage. It's quite easy to grow if you are so inclined, especially in a coolish dampish climate as in most of the UK (compared to North Carolina that is!)

[Mayflowers]

I've been anemic on and off most of my life, even eating meat. I take FERGON which is ferrous gluconate. It's iron derived from plants instead of mined. Regular ferrous sulfate made me insanely irregular. I can't tolerate it. Most stores carry Fergon. Walgreens, Rite-Aid.....

That's very interesting that when you went gluten free, your iron levels returned to normal! Wow. I never would have thought of that. I wonder if that is my problem too. I'll find out soon.

I really like spinach too. People who are iron poor, tend to like foods rich in it, like strawberries which have the highest iron of all fruits and peanut butter, wine and chocolate. I would always crave chocolate when I was anemic. When I would take the Fergon, the cravings would go away.

[taz sharratt]

I've been anemic on and off most of my life, even eating meat. I take FERGON which is ferrous gluconate. It's iron derived from plants instead of mined. Regular ferrous sulfate made me insanely irregular. I can't tolerate it. Most stores carry Fergon. Walgreens, Rite-Aid.....

That's very interesting that when you went gluten free, your iron levels returned to normal! Wow. I never would have thought of that. I wonder if that is my problem too. I'll find out soon.

I really like spinach too. People who are iron poor, tend to like foods rich in it, like strawberries which have the highest iron of all fruits and peanut butter, wine and chocolate. I would always crave chocolate when I was anemic. When I would take the Fergon, the cravings would go away.

ive tried a shed load of iron and i just cant tolerate any, my sister who is also anemic has a different reaction, she gets buzzed! honestly it makes her go loopy, its like shes taken grugs! my mum cant tolerate it iether. its interesting what you said about the wine and choc cos im really craveing choc at mo but cos im milk intolerant its been difficult, but also not that im an alchy or anything ive been wanting a glass of wine a lot more lately. and i have been putting strawberries in my smoothies a lot more too. its wierd. thank god im not going nuts.

[lindalee]

I've been anemic on and off most of my life, even eating meat. I take FERGON which is ferrous gluconate. It's iron derived from plants instead of mined. Regular ferrous sulfate made me insanely irregular. I can't tolerate it. Most stores carry Fergon. Walgreens, Rite-Aid.....

That's very interesting that when you went gluten free, your iron levels returned to normal! Wow. I never would have thought of that. I wonder if that is my problem too. I'll find out soon.

I really like spinach too. People who are iron poor, tend to like foods rich in it, like strawberries which have the highest iron of all fruits and peanut butter, wine and chocolate. I would always crave chocolate when I was anemic. When I would take the Fergon, the cravings would go away.

Have you tried " Feosol"(carbonyl iron)? I just bought that from Wallmart. I believe that is the one Dr. Mercola recommends- I'll have to check. Do you also take B-12? LL

[Mayflowers]

Have you tried " Feosol"(carbonyl iron)? I just bought that from Wallmart. I believe that is the one Dr. Mercola recommends- I'll have to check. Do you also take B-12? LL

I tried Feosol. That stuff made me feel weird. Ferrous gluconate is derived from plants. It's the most gentle on the system of all the iron supplements. That's why I recommend it. You're only other option is to eat a lot of red meat and liver and take vitamin C with it or eat/drink citrus with it when you do for easier absorption. Don't drink cow's milk with the red meat. It inhibits the absorption also. If you crave chocolate, it's most likely not a B-12 deficiency. They usually do a blood test for that. I can't take high doses of B-12 orally, it triggers my intolerance migraines which I get for 2 days at a time. I can take up to 50 mcg of B12 with no reaction.

[lindalee]

I tried Feosol. That stuff made me feel weird. Ferrous gluconate is derived from plants. It's the most gentle on the system of all the iron supplements. That's why I recommend it. You're only other option is to eat a lot of red meat and liver and take vitamin C with it or eat/drink citrus with it when you do for easier absorption. Don't drink cow's milk with the red meat. It inhibits the absorption also. If you crave chocolate, it's most likely not a B-12 deficiency. They usually do a blood test for that. I can't take high doses of B-12 orally, it triggers my intolerance migraines which I get for 2 days at a time. I can take up to 50 mcg of B12 with no reaction.

Thanks, I had heard about the oj with the meat. I've been taking the Fesol every other day and B12 sublinqal (3000) mg. My chocolate cravings have faded. I'm trying to eliminate all sugar. I'm off milk and soy. I have noticed I don't crave spinach anymore. In fact, I really don't desire it. LL

[ms-sillyak-screwed]

Anemic ?