Bringing Iron Levels Up

I used Iron Fizz, a healtheries one from the supermarket that you make like a berrocca drink, tastes a little like blackcurrent (sort of!) Anyway my ms was really bad but I could cope with this.

Have you tried the Thompsons organic iron pills? My last pregnancy I was taking 4 a day towards the end as my levels were 4. They have 24mg iron, 30mg Vit C, 100mcg Folic acid and 2mg B12 in them.

I can't take the prescription ones as they bung me up really bad, but I didn't have too many issues with these (although I REALLY made sure that I up'd my fibre majorly!)

Flurodix is pretty good..... Not instant, but good.... tastes nice too and I personally prefer that to tablets... easier for body to absorb.

If you go with tablets- avoid bungin up by eating kiwifriuit, and prunes..... they are magic. Not too many prunes lol. They are my super food at the mo. And raw almonds. I discovered COLD fruit from the fridge was awesome for me when nothing else tasted good- esp oranges.

Tofu has some iron in it- nice crumbled into a stirfry. Tricky when you cant stomach much food hey- I totally identify!!!!
You prob cant stomach seaweed then huh! Cos thats a good source of B12 and iron.

There are also some herbal teas you can try too that have iron in them- ask at a health food store for the right ones.

(FYI- if you go with a berroca type thing- look out for the ingredients... avoid aspartame, and Phenelananine.... not so great even when not preggo IMO, there are a few, even within the same product range that dont have it in.)

foods to aid those supplements, dried apricots have been recommended by many of Apr 09 mummies midwives...

Parsley has the highest percentage of iron I think... I cant stand it and wouldnt even know how to incorporate it into my diet.

not very helpful was i, lol.

Spatone is good, just gotta make sure you take it everyday and keep taking it, its rather pricey though, I have to take it aswell.

The floradix is good, but your already taking that

Ummmm.....marmite! have marmite on toast if you can.

Cashews, prunes, dried apriots, almonds are all good for boosting your iron, oh and brown rice.

When my iron was low when preggers with caden, i would have my floradix then marmite on toast for breakfast, a handful of dried apricots and some pure orange juice, then my iron pills in yoghurt and I never got bunged up cos of the yoghurt and the orange juice.

melnel wrote: Parsley has the highest percentage of iron I think... I cant stand it and wouldnt even know how to incorporate it into my diet.

 

According to the NZFSA booklet I got from my doctor at the start parsley is on the list of foods we can't have during pregnancy.  I googled to find out why and apparently it can cause uterine contractions and may lead to abortion.  I assume that's only when eaten in large amounts though.

a trick that a friend told me with almonds is to soak them in cold water overnight - it changes the taste and texture a bit and makes them heaps nicer (not so bitter) it also makes them easier to digest.

My mum has had low iron for years and used to take iron tables but now she just takes spirulina all the time - but I am not sure how that goes with being pregnant sorry.

Thanks for all the tips!!

And thanks Pearls for the healthpost thing. I've just ordered some more because I really don't mind taking it and that's way cheaper than in the health shop.