Help, iron deficient anemia

[hippiegirl]

Hi Shelley,
I have a recurrent problem with anemia. Last year, in February, my hemoglobin was 9. They tested for everything, and found nothing so gave me two iron infusions. Now my hemoglobin is 8.5. Not good!!!! For the past two months I have been following your suggested eating plan of a protein drink in the morning, then I drink 1 cup of vegetable juices (beet, carrot, celery, spinach, cucumber and ginger). For lunch I have Moroccan chicken soup or kichadi, then more juice then soup, kichadi, hot cereal or pilaf for dinner. I usually eat a piece of fruit in there somewhere. a month ago my hemo was at 9 now it has dropped 1/2 a point. The Dr.'s solution is to monitor my blood and infuse me when needed. For some reason I am not absorbing iron. I didn't have this problem 2 years ago. It should be repairable. I read somewhere that Betaine HCL could be helpful in promoting absorption. Do you have any ideas or suggestions. I really don't want to spend the rest of my life getting infusions. It just doesn't seem right.....help.....
Thanks for your time and your wisdom
Carol

[h0ppy]

This might help... http://www.curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=337&i=4812

[shelley]

whoops! the computer must have burped when I answered this! I swear I answered this but it's not here now. OH well.

People who are not absorbing iron usually have very low stomach acids. Be sure to take the stomach acid test and see if that is a factor.

When you take iron, preferably as Solaray's Iron Asporotate (non-constipating and very usable/absorbable) and using molasses as your sweetener, do not take iron-antagonists at the same time. The main antagonists to iron are: calcium, zinc, magnesium, insoluble fiber, soy, dairy (casein - milk protein), oxalic acid (spinach), vitamin E.

Things that help iron absorption are: Vitamin C, especially unbuffered, Vitamin A, niacin, lecithin, protein.

Mangenese is also very very important to getting adequate iron.

There's a list of foods high in iron in the FAQ under diet management.

Hope that helps!

[hippiegirl]

Shelley,
So if I juice spinach to help the anemia it has properties to block the absorption? How do you get around that?
Carol

[shelley]

Don't rely on spinach for iron! For one thing, the reports that it is high in iron were actually due to some bad math. It doesn't have near as much iron as reported, and what there is blocked by its acids. Now I've yet to find a definitive resource on whether cooking it or leaving it raw and juiced makes the iron more absorbable, but I think Sally Fallon has it right - she says only cooking it de-activates the phytic acid.

Kale, collard greens, dandelion, cilantro, are much better dark leafy greens to accent. Cilantro is the only one I like raw, the rest I prefer cooked but kale does fine juiced with a bit of celery and lots of carrot. And kale makes an awesome soup. I don't think I've posted my kale and bean soup yet, hmmm.

[hippiegirl]

Hi,
I did the stomach acid test, I had read about it somewhere else which said to keep upping the dosage until you could feel a burning. Well, I have taken up to 8 on an empty stomach and still no burning. Then I read your post and it said to only take as many as 3. What do you think?
Carol

[shelley]

Oh my! I think you must be REALLY deficient in stomach acids, and that would explain a lot!

Once you start upping your stomach acids with a good supplement (get one with the HCL Betaine and also Pepsin if you can) you'll start absorbing B's and Iron, and once you get up to par you will start manufacturing the stomach acids on your own. Just be sure to get plenty of Skin Food.

[hippiegirl]

OK, I have just collected all the stuff I need to do the vita cleanse. Is it appropriate at this time or should I get my stomach acids on the up and up first?
Carol

[shelley]

it's still appropriate, best to not be eating a lot while your stomach isn't working, and this cleanses raises digestive power overall.