Hi Jeff,
I am really grateful that this forum has been added. I have read many of your responses and they are well thought out thorough. I have been struggling for over 6 months now to correct an iron deficiency. I am currently taking 2 300 mg tablets of ferrous fumarate (providing 100 mg of iron each) a day. I have been doing this for 2 weeks now and hoping that this will put me ahead of the game. I'm looking for advise on what to eat to optimise my iron intake. I am vegan and follow the McD plan fairly closely in that I limit my use of oil at home and try to make low fat choices in restaurants. I don't drink coffee or tea. Sometimes I drink herbal tea but never with meals.
I am iron deficient not anemic. I am trying to prevent becoming anemic. But I am really feeling the deficiency. The worst of my symptoms include insomnia and heart palpitations. I have been checked for liver and kidney problems as well as stool test and so far all looks good. I am taking synthroid as my thyroid gland was damaged due to radiation treatments for hodgkins lymphoma 12 years ago and my levels are normal, the same as they have been for a decade. I start to feel better but then I have a blood test or my monthly cycle and I feel like I'm back at square 1 again. The blood test results always reflect that. So, I'm constantly playing catch up and not gaining ground.
So, what should I eat? Not eat? How much? What about oxalates and phytates? How much effect do they having on nutrient absorbtion?
What are your thoughts on this subject? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks, RRC