Low Iron

[Attached Mama]

I've eaten more meat in the last year than in my entire life - all grassfed - and my iron is low. ???????

I can take liver pills, but what else will help, and why with a veg diet was my iron never low?

Is taking a weekly iron supplement bad? Or more often? When I was veg I took an iron pill about once or twice per week and that was enough - even thru my pregnancy my iron counts were great. But now with the meat I figured I don't need that.

Any ideas?

[dogmom327]

My first thought would be that something else is going on. That low iron levels are a symptom of another problem (maybe something blocking absoprtion of the iron?). Can you maybe see a naturopath? Although you certainly could take floradix or something similar, it doesn't sound like it's a lack of iron in your diet.

[kl5]

I have the same problem (ate lots of beautiful, pastured meats and was still miserably low in iron) and was able to determine that I was gluten-intolerant and not absorbing a lot of the nutrients from the foods I was eating. I have cut out gluten (and dairy for a while) and am taking daily iron and vitamin d, plus a bunch of other supplements to help me heal. Do you have digestive issues, generally? Diarrhea or constipation more than once in a while, bloating etc.? (This is a hypothetical question, and not me trying to get you to over-share! ) If so, it's definitely worth seeing someone who can help you figure out what is going on. My doctor has been fantastic in helping me muddle through it all.

It might also be a worth a trip over to the allergy forum for a browse to see if anything hits close to home.

Good luck!

[WuWei]

Do the "Pink Pee" test to evaluate your stomach acid, which is necessary for digestion and nutrient absorption. http://heal-thyself.ning.com/forum/topics/the-beet-test

Do you have mercury fillings in your teeth, yeast, candida? The combination will decrease nutrient absorption. Adding zinc, magnesium and vit C help with iron absorption. Calcium competes with iron absorption.

Soaking grains and beans will increase iron bio-availability.


Pat

[Attached Mama]

I don't have digestion problems, mercury fillings, yeast or candida... any other ideas? Maybe I'm eating too much dairy calcium ???

[dogmom327]

Originally Posted by Attached Mama

Maybe I'm eating too much dairy calcium ???

Possible but I kind of doubt it. I drink a half gallon of raw milk a day plus consume cheese and butter and my iron levels this pregnancy are great.