Anemia and Food Treatment

January 9, 2014

Howdini Channel

 

Iron Rich Foods:
• Beans and Pulses (White Beans, Lentils)
• Beef and Lamb (Lean Tenderloin)
• Dark Chocolate and Cocoa Powder
• Dark Leafy Greens (Spinach, Swiss Chard)
• Liver (Pork, Chicken, Turkey, Lamb, Beef)
• Mollusks (Clams, Mussels, Oysters)
• Nuts (Cashew, Pine, Hazelnut, Peanut, Almond)
• Squash and Pumpkin Seeds
• Tofu
• Whole Grains, Fortified Cereals, and Bran

Caution: foods components that can decrease iron absorption:
• Tannins and polyphenols in tea, coffee, and cocoa
• Calcium in dairy products and fortified foods
• Phytates in legumes and whole grains

Hint: ways to increase iron absorption:
• Eat plant source iron along with animal source iron improves iron absorption.
• Eat vitamin C rich foods such as in fruits and vegetables to boost iron absorption.
• Use your grandma’s iron skillet to cook your food.


From Barbara Mendez Channel

{ 206 comments… read them below or add one }

Aferrell July 1, 2014 at 10:51 pm

Would have never thought of cooking in an iron skillet as being a way to incorporate more iron into my diet!

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Freeman KL January 28, 2015 at 3:31 pm

Me either! That is very interesting!

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JStringfellow February 17, 2015 at 3:31 pm

I didn’t know that either. It is good to know that now.

JStringfellow February 17, 2015 at 3:36 pm

That’s all I drink is coffee and tea. It is good to know that. I need to drink water when I eat a meal.

lwalker June 25, 2015 at 5:28 pm

Yes! I agree, that was a very interesting video. I had never heard anyone say that cooking in a iron skillet gives your food iron.

rmartinez0751 January 20, 2016 at 11:22 am

yea that was interesting need go buy one now

lefj1979 February 24, 2016 at 10:35 pm

two benefits in one better tasting and iron

JGarrett July 6, 2016 at 5:08 pm

That is crazy I never would have thought an iron skillet would help with iron. too funny!

jdurfee October 8, 2016 at 12:56 am

I am definitely investing in a cast iron skillet!

Averyel85 October 30, 2016 at 11:27 pm

Yes, I grew up with my mom always using one. Never would have guessed it would actually help with iron intake!

mbarrett2289 March 7, 2017 at 2:57 pm

That would be such a helpful way to help me because I don’t particularly enjoy any of the iron-rich foods.

Hailee Cooper October 14, 2017 at 8:07 pm

I never knew that either. I often have to remind myself to drink water with my meals.

Csutherland February 22, 2015 at 8:32 pm

for sure some great tips about iron!

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HunterMcWhorter February 24, 2016 at 10:27 pm

The iron skillet is pretty cool. it never dawned on me that this would work.

lekeisha ollison March 2, 2015 at 12:58 pm

iron skillet it is!!!!!thats crazy…never would have thought of that

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ywilson June 23, 2015 at 9:17 am

I’m with you. Time to get a iron skillet.

mcash97 January 25, 2016 at 5:29 pm

the only thing i usually cook in an iron skillet is potatoes or cornbread….not a good thing.

vrobinson July 7, 2016 at 12:15 am

My grandpa use to tell me this and I just thought he was full of it little did I know he was actually right.

Sydney Nichole July 7, 2016 at 5:56 pm

I stopped cooking in iron skillets and has been using my deep fryer just because its time efficient but I guess its back to the skillet Im with you guys back to the skillet I go.

srussell September 13, 2016 at 12:26 pm

who knew…I guess it’s time to drag out the iron skillet and pots I have.

autumnd October 15, 2017 at 2:32 pm

Cracker Barrel has the best iron skillets!

ycanasramos February 24, 2018 at 2:22 am

This is completely new to me. I just gave away some iron skillets that my mother in law gave me. If I knew this information before I wouldn’t give my skillets to someone.

Amay October 4, 2018 at 9:04 pm

My family has used cast iron skillets most of my life! It was neat to learn that they are actually beneficial!!

MName August 28, 2020 at 6:59 pm

Iron skillet is an awesome way to get your iron. I’ve had low iron trouble before so this really helps.

kfryar March 4, 2015 at 8:58 pm

I know, I was like wow. I definitely get my iron my family always uses cast iron skillets.

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Ssmith97 March 8, 2016 at 3:09 pm

my grandma always made corn bread in her iron skillet

Ashleigh W. July 7, 2016 at 8:32 pm

My mom raised us with our iron skillet, I use it to cook everything except eggs!

Jadamson February 7, 2017 at 12:40 pm

There’s just something about knowing I’m eating little flakes of metal that scares me!

bsonger March 6, 2015 at 11:43 am

Im going to have to get one of those skillets

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Kmclane1426 September 9, 2015 at 10:42 pm

Me either!! I need to go get one now!

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Chelsea Vogel Hunter January 25, 2016 at 3:38 pm

I know me either but hat was good to know.

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dasmith January 31, 2016 at 6:16 pm

My grandmother taught me this little trick! When I mention it to others they look at me like I’m off my rocker. I love the added flavor cooking in iron skillets give the food also.

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knichole March 1, 2016 at 8:40 pm

It is a useful thing to have, I have yet to get one, but I want one.

Amber Newman February 23, 2016 at 11:31 pm

I have always heard it would, but i rarely ever cook in cast iron.

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Collins.M February 25, 2016 at 12:25 am

I thought cooking in an iron skillet with cracks was not healthy at all since particles of the skillet mixed with your food but didn’t know that it instead helps increase your iron level.

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tlampinen June 26, 2016 at 7:09 pm

crazy to think that, but im glad i know this information. very interesting

Bsossamon June 30, 2016 at 4:33 pm

It is crazy that using an iron skillet will provide your system with iron. I wonder if my grandmother knew this information. She would only use an iron skillet to cook.

jdurfee October 8, 2016 at 12:57 am

I always thought that they weren’t sanitary for that reason

nwade October 6, 2017 at 9:25 pm

I love that little secret. I had learned that a few years ago. My mom told me the same thing.

CHARPER3 October 11, 2017 at 10:24 pm

I also had no idea that cooking in an iron skillet had health benefits. I guess I will use it more regularly!

sparrish February 28, 2016 at 9:02 pm

I have been cooking in an iron skillet nearly all my life… (My Grandma did too!) but never knew that it would incorporate iron into my diet. Very interesting fact! Also I did not know that anemia could be helped by acupuncture and that symptoms might feel like you were having a heart attack. Wow.

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lmitchell March 2, 2016 at 8:33 pm

I was surprised by the fact that you could have chest pains like you would with a heart attack and that you could be anemic. Interesting to know. I also did not know about the cast iron skillet. Always learning something new, love it.

swhitfield March 2, 2016 at 9:01 pm

I didn’t know about these things as well! Especially the symptoms of anemia with it going “unchecked”, definitely good to know!! The iron skillet thing is pretty cool too. They are kind of too high maintenance though for me lol

Ashleigh W. July 7, 2016 at 8:34 pm

The acupuncture scares me I would rather do it the natural way and eat the green leafy veggies.

ckilpatrick October 10, 2016 at 4:07 pm

I had no clue that it incorporates iron either! We used to cook with an iron skillet all of the time. How interesting!

jwilson15 October 11, 2017 at 11:53 pm

My family cooks in iron skillets as well and I had never thought of it as adding iron to our diet. I also was surprised to hear that anemia can cause chest pain in some individuals, I always assumed it just made the person weak.

JPearson March 2, 2022 at 11:02 pm

I also did not know that the type of skillet would play into a persons diet.

DHarrington July 1, 2016 at 8:40 pm

Right? Pretty cool! Everything taste better cooked in an iron skillet anyways.

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SRogers February 17, 2018 at 12:00 am

My family has used an iron skillet most of my life. They often cook better than a regular skillet, but knowing that they help people with an iron deficiency is a much added bonus.

srussell August 23, 2016 at 4:12 pm

I had no idea but I love my iron cookware!

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sgerhardt September 6, 2016 at 7:55 pm

This was a completely awesome fact to learn. I bet people didn’t suffer from iron deficiency years ago because of this.

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Cfort August 30, 2018 at 3:11 pm

That’s exactly what I was thinking. If they all used them then I guarantee you they didn’t either. Pretty neat!

kneal September 12, 2016 at 9:25 pm

I would never have thought to use an iron skillet to cook with. It is a great way to start incorporating iron. I won’t suggest an iron supplement unless you drink tons of water because iron supplements can cause constipation in most people.

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Angelena essary September 30, 2016 at 11:37 pm

Yes. I was recently told the cooking in a iron skillet can help. Which is neat.

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LaurenRogers October 5, 2016 at 10:07 pm

My grandmother once told me this but I figured it was just an old wive’s tale! I think that is so cool!

vrogers October 1, 2016 at 1:03 am

Me either that is an absolutely amazing fact.

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bjohnson October 1, 2016 at 2:37 pm

Omg!!! I love using my iron skillet! Thankful for this info.

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afriedl October 5, 2016 at 5:38 pm

I wouldn’t have thought of that either. Makes sense since they can rust so easily!

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ltutt October 6, 2016 at 9:57 am

I would have never thought that would actually help you incorporate iron but that is interesting.

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kherrick February 26, 2017 at 7:10 pm

Me either. I love to cook in my iron skillet. This give me a reason to buy another one.

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BMcGriff1227 March 6, 2017 at 5:49 pm

This is one of the first things they told me to do. when they told me i was confused because i would have never thought that cooking in an iron skillet it would have such and effect on your iron intake.

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sawadjihe October 3, 2018 at 10:35 pm

me either, where I came from we do not cook on iron skillet. I will start now and see the difference.

agraham2 March 8, 2017 at 6:06 pm

Me either! how interesting to learn that a skillet could help with this.

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tcowles2149 March 8, 2017 at 10:46 pm

That is a very nifty new fact. I never would’ve thought about that! and food Is so much better in an iron skillet it’s like a double score.

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ssteele June 28, 2017 at 9:04 pm

I had no idea either!

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Awolfe September 3, 2017 at 10:31 pm

i agree that is crazy

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Natalie Fusilier October 11, 2017 at 9:43 pm

Neither did I. I have learned a lot watching these videos!

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Cfields2 October 11, 2017 at 9:51 pm

That was also very interesting to me!

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KYoung January 27, 2018 at 10:52 pm

I had no idea either. Easy way to do it!

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caty marsischky June 27, 2018 at 9:56 pm

Me either, thats a great idea!

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acole4 September 2, 2018 at 3:30 pm

I agree! Its very interesting to know that an iron skillet could help

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cnitch1 October 2, 2018 at 12:45 pm

That is so ironic (excuse the pun)!! My grandma swears by using an iron skillet for everything but she says it makes the food better tasting. Now I can get a two-for-one deal with pleasing her and getting the health benefits.

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hjohnson September 30, 2019 at 12:44 am

Grandma is going to be happy and so is your body! I think it tastes better too if I’m being honest. I can’t get over the difference!

Keri Watson October 3, 2018 at 9:14 pm

I have never thought about it either! My fiance has been trying to get me to cook out of one for years! I guess he was right!

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Catapult1 October 11, 2018 at 1:13 am

I also found this tip to be very interesting. In fact, I have been thinking about buying an iron skillet for some time now, and this information has increased my urgency to buy one.

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tsamuels December 1, 2018 at 1:52 pm

I agree. More people should use iron skillets to cook with, but a lot of people don’t know that you aren’t suppose to wash them with soap or they will rust.

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Adiehl October 3, 2019 at 11:36 am

When my wife and I eat steaks we always use our cast iron skillet because of all of the yummy seasoning on it. I have never once thought about receiving iron from the skillet, that is actually really neat.

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wmccoy3365 October 8, 2019 at 9:42 am

I have always been a firm believer in cooking in a iron skillet. We never cook in anything else except them.

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havenhughes October 11, 2019 at 6:03 pm

I think this is AWESOME. I never thought that this could contribute to iron contribution.

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Jicaldw October 11, 2019 at 6:23 pm

I know. It sounds like it could be a myth.

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amazander February 25, 2022 at 5:38 pm

I totally agree with you! I never would have thought about cooking with an iron skillet to help increase your iron intake. I guess that I should’ve recognized that it was a good idea because for people who suspect that they are more vulnerable to alzheimers they suggest that you do not cook with pots or pans that are aluminum since many believe that it can be a cause of the disease.

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laureneleslie February 28, 2022 at 8:13 pm

Yeah me either, but I loveeee cooking with an iron skillet because i like to sear my food in all honesty.

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ANowlin March 2, 2022 at 9:23 am

I knew about the iron skillet because my mom and grandma both have iron skillets and every time, they make food they go to cook it in the iron skillet first. When I was little, I just thought that it was a little weird but went along with it, but later learned through them that cooking in an iron skillet is a good way to increase iron levels.

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panda August 29, 2022 at 3:22 pm

Me either! that is pretty cool though. Good to know for sure.

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kfleming October 10, 2022 at 10:18 pm

I had never heard this as well, thought that was crazy! This video was definitely interesting and had some great information.

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rstantonxxxx July 1, 2014 at 6:12 pm

dark rings around the bottom of the eyes is a sign of not enough iron.

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ctrue February 11, 2015 at 10:21 pm

I did not know that. That’s interesting.

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devans February 25, 2015 at 8:36 am

I didn’t know that either.

mthacker0878 August 26, 2015 at 1:28 pm

I actually have very dark circles around both eyes, and I to have heard that is related to iron deficiency. I’m familiar with the cast iron skillets supplying iron to your diet although, I’ve never actually purchased one due to they are heavy to work with, and I’ve never been interested in the seasoning and the care of the iron skillets.

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Ashleigh W. July 7, 2016 at 8:38 pm

If you decide to get one you would not want to cook with anything else. I love ours and its older than me! I think it is amazing how a skillet could benefit our bodies in such a positive way!

Epeppers October 7, 2016 at 10:33 pm

Iron skillets are AMAZING!! I am in the process of seasoning mine and getting it all nice and worked out. I will begin to use it more now knowing that it does supply iron to my diet.

khamblen October 4, 2018 at 11:07 am

I married a southern man and was initially hesitant about cooking with the Iron Skillets that came in to my life with him. But I tell you what after getting over that hesitation I love cooking with them. They are a lot easier to season and care for than people think and they even offer preseason pans and pan seasoning at stores now which make transitioning to cast iron so much easier.

Awolfe September 3, 2017 at 10:32 pm

that is interesting thanks for sharing

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stroxel October 12, 2017 at 12:49 am

That’s awesome! I use an iron skillet every now and then, but it never crossed my mind that it would add iron to my diet.

mhood June 30, 2014 at 9:27 pm

I always enjoy cooking with an iron skillet because I like the way that it makes my food taste, but I really didn’t think to associate the vitamin iron with an iron skillet.

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mswitzer February 23, 2015 at 9:06 pm

I didn’t think it made a difference either. I just thought my food came out much better! very interesting

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HHairston September 29, 2016 at 2:13 pm

Same here! I thought it tasted better, but I didn’t realize that they had health benefits!

atoney January 27, 2017 at 2:16 pm

It is very interesting. I never would have guessed.

lwalker June 25, 2015 at 5:35 pm

My mother always cooked in a iron skillet, therefore I grew up cooking in one also. I never asked her why, but now that I have seen this video I’m assuming that was one of the reasons. Amazing! Learn something knew everyday.

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Awolfe September 3, 2017 at 10:33 pm

my parents still do and try to get me to use it that must be why

scasteel February 28, 2017 at 12:31 pm

I did not realize we could get iron from and iron skillet either, that means I get plenty because I cook in one most of the time.
Sheena Burrow

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mpearce June 29, 2014 at 10:13 pm

I found it interesting that men actually need less iron than women do. Seems like usually men need more of any nutrient. I figure menstruation has a lot to do with that.

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dgray January 29, 2015 at 9:55 am

I found that very interesting as well because I’m so used to hearing that men need more of the nutrients, but when it comes to iron I guess not!

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Ashleigh W. July 7, 2016 at 8:39 pm

Yeah I was thinking the same thing, but is all we need is two cups, I can defiantly do that!

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msmith June 27, 2014 at 2:47 pm

This is such an interesting video. I have a friend who is anemic, and I didn’t realize all the facts about it until watching this video. I will definitely recommend taking an iron supplement and questioning about her about her workout schedule.

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rstantonxxxx July 1, 2014 at 6:14 pm

can’t remember last commercial I saw for Geritol, as much iron in one tablespoon as a pound of calf’s liver, or that’s the way the saying went.

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Awolfe September 3, 2017 at 10:34 pm

i agree it is a lot of info that needs to be shared soon

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rself June 27, 2014 at 11:13 am

Out of all the symptoms of anemia she mentioned, I think it is common for people to think they may be anemic. There are a lot of people that feel fatigued, unfocused, stressed, etc. I know I did when I was in nursing school, but that’s because it was very hard work. The best way to find out would be to go to the doctor and have lab work done. An interesting thing she mentioned was that a symptom of anemia was wanting to chew. I’ve never heard of that before.

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mpearce June 29, 2014 at 10:15 pm

I kept thinking the whole length of the first video that I must be anemic! I doubt I am because of some of the foods I eat. I would hope people would hold off on taking an iron supplement unless they have been tested, I’ve read about the side effects of having too much.

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Ashleigh W. July 7, 2016 at 8:42 pm

Taking supplements are wonderful if you need them. I noticed when I tried to take a multivitamin I was having bad headaches, when I had my blood tested I had normal levels and didn’t need the extra help that’s why my head hurt.

Micah Thomas October 5, 2016 at 12:40 am

Same here! i thought i was too at first but i really doubt i am.

sboyett February 25, 2015 at 9:19 am

Yes, I agree–I think a lot of people think they are anemic just because they are tired. I imagine that most people are tired for other reasons, like not enough sleep or stress. I though it was interesting that wanting to chew is a symptom of anemia. I wonder if that is because the body knows it needs to eat? or maybe the body knows it needs meat (iron).

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lwalker June 25, 2015 at 5:43 pm

Yes, I agree also…That most people would think they are anemic because of being tired all the time and fatigue. Because that’s exactly what I thought after watching the video. This video kinda described me perfectly, with that being said I will check with my doctor before taking any kind of supplement.

EWalters October 9, 2015 at 10:52 am

I agree that if you think you may be anemic, go get lab work done. The test is very simple and requires only a small amount of blood.

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Darius2 March 2, 2016 at 12:10 am

Many of the women I know are anemic and usually learned they were when it they’d tried to participate in a blood drive at school or their primary physician told them after a simple blood test or physical.

tynapp July 24, 2016 at 5:06 pm

My girlfriend has it and is nursing school. She is extremely stressed from it but also anemic. They love to chew ice.

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DGPatton October 5, 2016 at 12:05 pm

I agree and was thinking the same! According to her s/s, I have anemia, but I know I don’t because I regularly give blood. I had anemia in high school and another big factor is dizziness.

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mdanner4505 June 18, 2014 at 9:25 pm

Anemia is very serious, it affecting more than 1.6 billion people, almost half of them preschool children and pregnant women.

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bpruitt July 2, 2014 at 10:17 pm

And what’s crazy is that some women go months and even years without knowing they are anemic!

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eramsey4317 March 8, 2017 at 12:27 pm

This statistic makes me very sad.

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fcarter-doreau June 17, 2014 at 8:08 pm

Very interesting… I had never heard of wanting to “chew” as an indication of possible anemia. I was very Anemic while pregnant and even with taking a iron supplement. Being weak and feeling tired is an understatement! It’s crazy how much iron levels effects your body. I probably need to be adding more iron-rich foods to my diet definitely!

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B.Willis July 1, 2015 at 12:32 am

Yes, chewing is an odd indicator of anemia.

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agraham2 March 8, 2017 at 6:08 pm

yes I agree, very odd! i’m anemic and have all of the symptoms except that craving.

pbridges9020 June 17, 2014 at 7:44 am

Great! Iron Skillet I stop using mine years ago but I guess I will get it back out. I have A lot of Stress in my Job so I need to take a Supplement. Question does a Multi Vit give you enough Iron and other Vitamins without adding additional Supplements.

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sparks June 4, 2014 at 9:08 pm

I found the iron skillet thing really interesting. I also didn’t know that drinking tea while eating a meal decreases iron absorption. I developed anemia during pregnancy. I was always so tired and exhausted. But after I had my baby, my iron levels returned to normal and I had was no longer tired all of the time.

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lwalker June 25, 2015 at 5:50 pm

Yes, I found it very interesting also that cooking in a iron skillet gives the food iron.

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Sdecker May 30, 2014 at 4:07 pm

I had no idea that coffee and tea decreases iron consumption…. I drink a lot of coffee and tea. I really need to work on intaking more iron than I do. I will target vitamin C to bring in the ability to intake iron better. I needed the tip on avoiding tea with meals though, I do that a lot. :/

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lwalker June 25, 2015 at 5:59 pm

I drink a lot of coffee and tea also, that’s the first thing I do when I walk in the kitchen, is make a cup of coffee and not to mention tea, I love MacDonald tea all bad I know:{ I knew that neither coffee or tea was good for me health wise,but what I didn’t know was that it decreases my iron consumption. I got to do better!!!

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k. williams May 5, 2014 at 5:36 pm

Anemia is serious and can decrease your level of energy if its not under control.

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MCogburn3 March 9, 2014 at 9:01 pm

Loved the speaker, very well spoken~!! Learned a lot about iron, 80% is crazy~!! Heme/ Non-Heme, Hemochomatosis, so much information~!! Great video, music and visually wise~!! 🙂 ♥♥♥

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pbridges9020 June 17, 2014 at 7:46 am

I agree! Very well done and informative!!

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Jordan Lewis March 6, 2014 at 4:10 pm

This video helped clear up iron deficiency!

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Aowens March 6, 2014 at 12:20 am

I really enjoyed watching this video. I never really understood the iron defiency and that there was even iron in food. This video gave me a clearer outlook on it.

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awagner March 6, 2014 at 12:01 am

I didn’t think that iron deficiency could be that serious. Luckily, I feel like I eat enough iron-rich foods throughout the day that I don’t have to worry about it that much.

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Natasha Toudouze March 5, 2014 at 9:48 pm

I have iron deficiency so I can honestly say I have to take specially prescribed iron meds to keep my iron up.

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Natasha Toudouze March 5, 2014 at 9:24 pm

That’s interesting about the iron skillet. I never thought of it like that.

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cosborne March 5, 2014 at 7:30 pm

I never really understood the iron defiency and that there was even iron in food, so this video made that subject alot clearer to me

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MSmith March 5, 2014 at 5:09 pm

I have been anemic most of my life and never knew it till I had a check-up. The doctor told me that my blood cells were misshapen. I don’t eat very much food that is rich in iron because it hurts my stomach.

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ethacker March 5, 2014 at 2:13 pm

I have known a few people that are anemic..their symptoms were weak, irregular heartbeat and very tired. After watching this video, I know that Iron is very important for the human body. Dark leafy vegetables and raisens are good sources of iron, which is great to know.

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iramirez March 5, 2014 at 12:58 pm

I get really cold feet and hands makes me wonder if I have anemia :O
I liked this video because I realize now how important iron is for the body! I do eat poultry and seafood quite often and bread along with fruits to get my Vitamin C

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rrink October 4, 2016 at 1:53 pm

My hands and feet are always cold, even in summer! It never occurred to me that it could be due to iron deficiency.

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ckuhn March 5, 2014 at 12:52 am

I had no idea using an iron skillet could help. I have never had a low iron problem or anyone of my family that i know of. I also never really knew the different foods that had iron in them.

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wbukowski March 4, 2014 at 9:34 pm

I knew that iron was an important mineral for the human body because it’s an important factor for blood. Low iron levels means less oxygen is being transport throughout the body.

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chobbs March 4, 2014 at 7:50 pm

Anemia effects a lot of elderly individuals, I never realized that the solution to this problem was so simple. Anyone low in iron can correct this problem by ingesting iron rich foods or supplements. Also, I didn’t realize that excess levels of iron can be fatal or cause iron poisioning. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor while determining appropriate iron consumption levels.

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cgreene March 3, 2014 at 11:57 pm

Wow, first of all I had no idea that you should use an iron skillet. She also stated that one cup of greens will give about 4mg of iron and using them in combination with other Fe rich foods will even boost that amount. Great! I always have greens in the fridge and now, like making an omlet, I’ll definitely start mixing them with other foods like beans in the pantry. Great ideas here!

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Katarina Lazic March 3, 2014 at 3:11 pm

I found this video very interesting. I talk to my friends about it, and I have one friend that is anemic. I asked her, if she eats a lot of food with iron, but she admitted to me, that she doesn’t.
Spinach is alright to me, but I have to eat it with something else.
I’m pretty sure my iron levels are fine because the Doctors never mention that I’m low in it, which is good!

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jostie March 2, 2014 at 8:31 pm

I sometimes have low iron levels. It all depends on what you eat. I’ve never been put on iron supplements by my doctor. Every time I go to the Doctor my levels are normal. But sometimes when I go to give blood they turn me down due to very low iron levels.

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Ashleigh W. July 7, 2016 at 8:43 pm

I was turned away before, they told me to go eat a hamburger!

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beasterling March 1, 2014 at 1:15 pm

Personally my blood is very thick. My Hemoglobin and Hematocrit are 17 and 50 respectively so I highly doubt I will ever develop anemia but it is a big problem with so many people. It is good to have awareness of your body and what you may eventually deal with.

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ACOOPER March 1, 2014 at 12:50 pm

I think it is also important to mention that your iron levels can fluctuate day to day. Depending on what you eat can change your levels. I’ve had days where I’ll be considered anemic and then the next I’ll have a normal level.

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jwilson July 2, 2014 at 8:16 pm

I have the same way. When I try to give blood my levels are too low one day and the next it is just fine.

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hcrabb September 8, 2018 at 5:04 pm

I think that’s important to mention too. It really is about what we eat each day that leads to the levels of vitamins and minerals or lack thereof that are in our systems. If I eat a ton of sweets one day and then to counteract that I eat salads and smoothies the next, I still feel the effects of eating the sweets the day before. The feelings are of heaviness, sluggishness, and head fog. Too much sugar is not fun! I always strive for a Balanced Diet, but there are always days that I fall off the station wagon!

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Stephanie Herndon February 27, 2014 at 1:51 pm

Well I love spinach both fresh and out of the can. I thought it was funny that in the first video one of the hint’s was to start cooking in your grandmother’s old iron skillet, my mom ironically just got me one because I was always borrowing hers. She lives across the street from me and I love to make cornbread in it, but I guess I need to start cooking more things in it.

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aeasley February 26, 2014 at 4:06 pm

I’m anemic and have been for a while now. I have tried to not drink tea with my meals so I can absorb the nutrition from my food that I eat. My doctor told me to eat more red meat and I’ve tried but it hasn’t worked much. I get tired very easily and it has affected my heart rate when I do simple tasks. Vitamin C has seemed to make it a little easier to feel more energetic.

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JALSTON February 26, 2014 at 3:58 pm

I took iron supplements throughout my pregnancy due to anemia and had never had trouble in the past. I was amazed at how much better I felt after always feeling so tired and worn out. I haven’t had any more trouble with anemia since then but I know now how important treatment is.

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Reginia Jennings February 25, 2014 at 7:42 pm

interesting using a iron skillet. I never really knew all the different foods that had iron in them an how it would help with anemia.

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Cstrickland5947 February 25, 2014 at 4:32 pm

I am anemic actually. When my iron gets low I can barely even function through out the day, I just get so tired. After I had my son, I had to take special iron supplements from the hospital that has more iron in them than the ones at Walmart. I still have to take them to this day. I do eat a lot of iron enriched foods such as nuts, whole grains, and Spinach. Even with eating these foods I still have to take the supplement.

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kbeard7948 February 23, 2014 at 11:31 pm

As a teenage girl, I know I need tons of Iron. I didn’t know that our bodies got iron from our rbc’s if it was needed though. My mom is anemic so she has blood transfusions pretty often!

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cgreene February 25, 2014 at 7:27 pm

My mom, too, is anemic. She’s pernicious anemic and has to take daily ferrous sulfate to maintain her Fe level. One thing I didn’t realize until after watching and reading about Fe is that men require more than women. I guess this is why most people I have come in contact with who are iron deficient are mostly women.

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Ldavis February 20, 2014 at 6:18 pm

I am anemic and always have been. My levels have gotten down to a 3 before. I was told I may have to have blood transfusions. I stopped drinking sodas and tea with my meals and my body was able to absorb the iron from my food. My levels have gotten way better now that I changed my diet. I am now on one pill a day instead of 3. I also had my levels go up way too high which made me very sick.

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wearnest February 20, 2014 at 3:41 pm

I believe a lot of woman that are pregnant become iron deficient. I hear it more often than not. These videos were very helpful and informative. My mom cooks often in our iron skillet so I have always believed my iron was fine, but it might not actually be true since I do not eat foods rich in iron.

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mjoyner February 20, 2014 at 12:41 am

Oh so that’s why people with low iron have problem breathing iron plays a big role in the body

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ccantrell1 January 24, 2015 at 8:02 pm

Yes it is! It is causes more fatigue in people than anything! My sister and me are both slightly anemic and having the extra iron pill in the morning started helping us with our energy throughout the day and even with after school activities.

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preed February 17, 2014 at 12:16 pm

Iron is a mineral that I had trouble with during my last pregnancy and I wish I had known about the foods mentioned in these videos. I think I might try the spinach and egg omelet for breakfast as well.

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ccantrell1 February 13, 2014 at 10:50 am

I know I have an iron deficiency in my blood but I also have to take the iron supplements so I do not risk a low energy life…. my case is not as severe as others but I know my iron intake in food is terrible because I am a snacker and I don’t just eat anything therefore it is easier for me to choke down a pill twice a day 🙂

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bpryor February 12, 2014 at 8:58 pm

It seems to me like anemia is more common in women. I’ve never ran across a man who was anemic. Also I never would have guessed that spinach had iron in it. When I was pregnant I took the prenatal vitamins that had folic acid in them but I have never had a problem with iron deficiency.

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ccantrell1 February 13, 2014 at 10:52 am

you leave a good point I haven’t met a guy either that has had a low iron deficiency….

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aeasley February 26, 2014 at 4:08 pm

I have a friend at college and he is anemic. He is very thin and is he is a vegan. He has to take iron supplements and probably will for most of his life since he gets no nutrition from meats. He doesn’t like vegetables either.

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Ashley July 24, 2016 at 11:13 pm

I agree with you that I think it is more known in women…unless men never express it.

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mboswell February 12, 2014 at 11:07 am

there are lots of ways to get iron from the foods you eat. this is very good to know. I have never been anemic but my sister was all her life. She did not like the foods that would help raise her levels of iron.

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wbukowski March 4, 2014 at 9:39 pm

I agree with you. It’s important to know what foods are rich with iron but at the same time we can’t consume to much or we’ll become toxic…it’s crazy!

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zdunlap March 13, 2018 at 10:06 pm

It is very important to ones health to understand what they are putting in their body. Having a dietitian is a good way to help inform you on what your body needs.

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aschaeffer February 10, 2014 at 3:34 pm

Start your day with a spinach smoothie and the whole day goes better. Even if you don’t care for the flavor of fresh spinach, adding fresh fruit and either a banana or Greek yogurt disguises the spinach flavor well. I prefer to drink another glass of water just before or after my smoothie. So breakfast gets me my daily dose of iron, good nutrients from fresh fruit and/or Greek yogurt, and 16 ounces of water.

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drandle October 5, 2016 at 5:36 pm

That is a great suggestion for how to get enough spinach in your diet. I love a morning smoothie and will have to try adding spinach to it.

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mhicks February 8, 2014 at 3:27 pm

I always thought I had iron deficiency so this was interesting. I didn’t know not to drink tea with meals either! I made notes of the foods she named for breakfast and I am going to try this out!

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preed February 17, 2014 at 12:19 pm

I thought the tea thing was interesting too. I don’t often drink tea but my daughter loves it so I will have to remeber this in case she ever has a problem with iron deficiency.

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Aferrell July 1, 2014 at 10:51 pm

During pregnancy I also had issues with iron and I agree that I wish I had known or been told about these foods instead of just relying on the supplements.

Stephanie Herndon February 27, 2014 at 1:55 pm

I did not about drinking tea either but normally I drink water with my meals. It also seems like Vitamin C is a good thing to eat with all meals as it causes us to absorb these other nutrients.

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ckuhn March 5, 2014 at 12:50 am

I also didn’t know about tea. My family including me drink a lot of tea!

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sladet February 5, 2014 at 8:39 pm

I remember when i was pregnant I had to take an iron pill, folic acid and eat red meat because i had anemia. You would think my Iron was never low cause i did use cast iron skillets.

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Emerson February 24, 2014 at 2:16 am

I had also heard about using a cast iron skillet to cook would increase the normal iron ingestion.

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jemerson February 27, 2014 at 4:54 pm

I had also heard about using a cast iron skillet to cook would increase the normal iron ingestion.

mclardy2 July 3, 2014 at 1:23 am

I didn’t realize it, either. Seems like a properly seasoned pan wouldn’t add iron to your diet, but maybe it leaches through. The other side of that, though is that cast iron will take an unsaturated fat and turn it into a saturated fat. There’s a great Alton Brown segment regarding deep frying in cast iron and how to make it at least slightly more healthy using enameled cast iron instead of bare, to keep the oxides from binding with the unsaturated fats.

awagner March 5, 2014 at 11:57 pm

Although I am a man, and will never have to endure the feeling of pregnancy, I still think its astounding just how much the levels of nearly all chemicals and hormones in your body will jump around, causing a wide range of symptoms. All of this is caused because you’re not only trying to regulate your own hormones, but the ones of an infant as well.

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wwalker3804 February 5, 2014 at 3:25 pm

If I eat Fortified cereals and milk in the morning. Is it appropriate to later eat the meats and beans without causing the reaction between the dairy products and meats?

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dbalding7689 February 4, 2014 at 10:10 pm

It’s ironic that calcium can block the absorption of iron! Two things that are beneficial to the body also work against each other..

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wwalker3804 February 5, 2014 at 4:24 pm

Yes it is interesting how our bodies adjust to the diet we eat and in many cases, as we have studied, our bodies make protein and other items that our bodies need, even though we do not eat proper quantities of them. This is one of the things that blows my mind when they say that this just happened instead of being created this way.

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bpryor February 12, 2014 at 8:59 pm

I completely agree it’s like a no win situation. How are you supposed to keep your bones and teeth healthy? Who is more important ?

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hyoung1 January 30, 2014 at 1:10 am

When I was pregnant with my children, I developed Anemia. My iron levels didn’t need help seeing as they went back to normal after both my kids were born, but the effects while it was low were so annoying. I was ALWAYS tired and I felt weak all the time. I didn’t take iron supplements because the doctor wanted me to get the iron from foods, which I couldn’t do because I was also always very sick and didn’t have much of an appetite. I don’t eat a whole lot of red meats but I love seafood and I eat spinach like crazy. If I am having a sandwich or wrap I always put a ton of spinach on it. Supposedly it has a bunch of iron in it.

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btubbs February 8, 2014 at 12:11 pm

Spinach is great for you and I eat it as well. I got on a kick last summer where I was eating it with every meal. I developed some kidney stones and my PA told me that it could have to do with the amount that I was eating.

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beasterling March 1, 2014 at 1:16 pm

Gestational anemia is a common problem with people who are at risk for developing anemia anyway. Its good that you’re aware of the risk and take precautions to avoid it in the future.

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fcarter-doreau June 17, 2014 at 8:03 pm

I also was very anemic while pregnant.. even with iron supplements. I felt so tired all of the time, it was not fun at all! But what’s crazy is I feel like every since then I still may be! I feel tired a lot, weak and other things like described in the video.I probably should start taking my iron supplements again!

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jpultz February 8, 2018 at 1:53 pm

Well what I would assume is when you are pregnant is that you would need enough iron for two people. However, now it seems that maybe you didn’t even have enough for one person. It could have been dangerous to your child.

btubbs January 29, 2014 at 9:18 am

I have noticed that there are a lot of women these days that take iorn supplements. are these nessicary, or are a lot of them misdiagnosed? Can we all get the iron we need from meats and leafy greens?

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sladet February 5, 2014 at 9:20 pm

So many women these days are on the go and I think taking the supplements is easier for them to get the vitamins they need. I’m not sure if we can get all that we need on a daily bases but that’s a good question I would like to know myself.

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ACOOPER March 1, 2014 at 11:54 am

I’ve taken multivitamins before that had higher iron and it caused me side affects. My stomach was always hurting and I didn’t have a BM for days. I eventually realized that it was the iron in the supplement and stopped taking it. Be careful when taking in extra iron from pills and supplements. It was be harmful!

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CLovell March 3, 2014 at 12:37 am

im low on iron, most of the women in my family are

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bkulis March 5, 2014 at 4:04 pm

I am sure that we can get enough iron from different kinds of healthy foods. In the beginning before there were many different things that we have now days, Adam and Eve just had plants to eat. They at first didn’t even eat meat until later. They ate fruits, nuts, and vegetables I’m sure. And they were the healthiest people ever.

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bperez March 1, 2015 at 4:17 pm

Your right, if Adam and Eve ate just fruits, veggies, and nuts and were healthy then we can do the same to avoid having anemia. However, with the way our food is grown we really can insure the same health benefits as back then. So sometimes supplements are needed to help our body keep going, but im all for natural remedies.

rwhite June 25, 2018 at 7:48 am

Yeah. Have you heard of the Daniel Diet? It’s essentially fruits and vegetables and the body receives the necessary amounts of nutrients.

Natasha Toudouze March 5, 2014 at 9:22 pm

I have very low iron so I have to take a prescribed dose of it to make sure I am getting the amount I need.

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k. williams May 5, 2014 at 5:35 pm

I’ve been noticing the same thing. But I know that people eating ice is a sign of anemia.

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key_ash3 March 3, 2017 at 9:35 pm

I have heard this as well and i noticed that my grandmother has done the same thing for years!

Tiffany August 27, 2018 at 7:59 pm

Yes I see a lot of people with low iron eat ice

kaitlyn staggs July 2, 2014 at 11:39 pm

I have also noticed that. My mom has too much iron in her blood and they actually told her not to eat from an iron skillet.

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haley14 September 18, 2016 at 5:35 pm

is she older reason im asking is my grandmother cooked and eat out of a iron skillet all of her life and then doctors told her, her iron levels were to high she needed to watch what she eat. its crazy things we grow up with when she passed i got the unhealthy unlucky iron skillet lol. and yes i cook with it every now and then.

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