Molasses for Iron

[crunchyveganmom]

I have heard that as vegans Iron is one of those vitamins that are hard to get. I dont know how true that is but have heard take molasses about a tsp of it everyday. I have done that and the taste is not horrible at all a matter of fact I dont even have to chase it with anything other then water... anyway when do you see the results from this as far as bruising. I heard that if you dont have enought iron a big thing that can happen is that you bruise really easy. Again dont know how true this is but I bruise super super easy. I have a huuuuuge bruise on my knee from God knows what. ANyway was wondering if anyone does this and when was the first time you noticed a difference. And is there a difference in molasses I was told all molasses is backstrap the good Iron kind. I am sooo uninfomed I believe it please tell me I am not just loading myself full of sugar for no reason. Thanks all for any help.

[Sayward]

I took a tablespoon of Blackstrap a day in my third trimester and that was enough to correct a dip in my iron levels. I've also been giving some to my son each day and his iron levels have always been stellar (breast fed babies/toddlers are especially prone to low iron)

Not all molasses are blackstrap; they will be specifically labeled as such. If the bottle does not say blackstrap then it's not blackstrap. You *do* need to use blackstrap in order to get the iron (and calcium!). Always take your iron with something that contains vitamin C, as it aides absorption.

But all that aside, if you are bruising that easily you really should see a doctor. It's generally not advised to self-diagnose an iron deficiency, because there are SO many other *serious* issues that can cause the same symptoms. As well, iron overload is almost as dangerous as iron deficiency. It really sounds like you should talk to a doctor.

Best!

[bandgeek]

I don't find iron particularly difficult to get.  Aside from the occasional "green smoothie" I don't do anything special to get iron and my most recent iron check was really good.  I do bruise easily though, but I did that as a meat-eater.  Might just be my very fair skin that *everything* shows up.

I sometimes make chewy ginger cookies with blackstrap molasses.  When I figured up the content, it came out to like 15% RDA of iron PER COOKIE.  Crazy.

[crunchyveganmom]

Originally Posted by Sayward 

I took a tablespoon of Blackstrap a day in my third trimester and that was enough to correct a dip in my iron levels. I've also been giving some to my son each day and his iron levels have always been stellar (breast fed babies/toddlers are especially prone to low iron)

Not all molasses are blackstrap; they will be specifically labeled as such. If the bottle does not say blackstrap then it's not blackstrap. You *do* need to use blackstrap in order to get the iron (and calcium!). Always take your iron with something that contains vitamin C, as it aides absorption.

But all that aside, if you are bruising that easily you really should see a doctor. It's generally not advised to self-diagnose an iron deficiency, because there are SO many other *serious* issues that can cause the same symptoms. As well, iron overload is almost as dangerous as iron deficiency. It really sounds like you should talk to a doctor.

Best!

Thanks for your help. I will be talking to my doctor and I know that I have been anemic in the past such as when I was pregnant with my last son due to bleeding the whole time really big clots. I also lost alot of blood with him and they gave me alot of iron pills yuk but havent been back to the doctor for this reason in a looong time. I was doing it mostly because I dont get spinache that often due to it doesnt last long here it goes bad rather quickly and would be more of a waste if we bought a great deal of it. I will look for specific back strap molasses. so what you are saying if it isnt backstrap I am just loading myself full of sugar not iron got it.... So looks like I will be going back to the store to get backstap molasses I have two things of this stuff awwww oh well I am sure we can use it something. Thanks for your help again.