3 Tips For Managing Iron-Deficiency Anemia

Posted on: 25 May 2018

Iron-deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia that mostly affects pregnant and menstruating women. Most instances of anemia can be corrected through lifestyle changes and supplementation.

Start With Your Diet

The best way to increase iron is by getting more in your diet. Foods with higher concentration of iron are usually animal products, especially liver, which may not be your ideal food choice. Other options include shellfish and fish. There are some plant sources that are higher in iron, but they have non-heme iron, which is less absorbable than heme iron. Beans, lentils, tofu, and spinach are among the plant-based options.

People who do not eat meat may need to work harder at their diet to improve their iron. Regardless of whether you eat meat, smoothies with spinach are a good option for a quick boost of iron. Although spinach is considered a high-iron food, after reading the nutrition label, you will notice that you need to consume an entire bag of raw spinach for it to have an impact. Cooked spinach is another option since large quantities wilt down to small amounts and are easy to consume.

Include Supplements

Iron supplements are usually recommended to correct iron-deficiency anemia. Depending on the severity of your anemia, just taking a daily multivitamin might be enough to correct the problem. Be sure to read labels before making the purchase since all multivitamins do not contain iron. If you need to take a separate iron supplement, you might need to experiment with different ones because some people have nausea or other digestive problems with iron supplements.

Using a slow-release formulation can often prevent upset stomach. Try taking your supplement with meals and avoid taking calcium or eating calcium-rich foods at the same time. Calcium makes it harder for your body to absorb iron when taken together.

Seek Additional Treatment

You likely found out you are anemic because of results from a routine blood test. It is important to know the underlying reason for anemia. Many women deal with anemia because they have heavy or lengthy periods. This is important to discuss with a gynecologist, because it might be a sign of fibroids or other uterine issues. Certain medications, such as birth control pills, might be able to reduce blood loss during your period.

If you do not have heavy periods or are a male, your doctor should be especially suspicious if you have anemia, but include adequate iron in your meals. Additional testing can rule out concerns, such as cancer or slow bleeds within the gastrointestinal system.

Fortunately, most issues with iron-deficiency anemia are not serious or life-threatening. Incorporating more iron-rich foods and using the right supplements can help you avoid the ill effects of low iron. For more information, contact local professionals or visit sites like https://jordanscellfood.com/.