1. Get That Run Down Feeling Checked Out
If fatigue seems to be your constant companion and your mother keeps telling you how pale you look, you may be anemic. Other symptoms include headaches, forgetfulness, nausea and fainting. The cure for anemia is taking in more iron; however, iron supplementation comes with its own dangers. Too much iron can lead to heart problems or liver damage. Only try it under a doctor's supervision.
2. Drink OJ Each Day to Chase Anemia Away
Meat has become the Catch-22 of nutrition. On the one hand, red meat like liver is the highest source of dietary iron you can eat. On the other hand, nutritionists warn people to reduce saturated fat in the diet for heart health. And, where is that saturated fat? Often, it's in the red meat. Before you feel like pulling your hair out from nutritional mixed messages, consider adding other iron-rich foods to your diet, such as iron-fortified bread and cereals plus other plant-based sources of iron. If you want to gain the greatest iron benefit from these foods, however, you should wash them down with a glass of orange juice. The Vitamin C found in orange juice helps the body absorb more iron.
3. Add Vitamin C to Your Diet to Fight Anemia
In addition to orange juice, you'll find that other Vitamin C rich foods also help your body better absorb the iron found in other foods. Check nutrition labels of packaged foods to see if a food includes Vitamin C. Citrus fruits and juices like orange and grapefruit have Vitamin C, but so do papaya, strawberries, cantaloupe and kiwi. The second highest source of dietary Vitamin C comes from a vegetable like red bell peppers.
4. Prevent Anemia With Other Iron Healthy Habits
In addition to boosting your body's ability to absorb iron with orange juice, you can also do other things to prevent anemia, including cooking in cast iron cookware. Sometimes increasing the iron in your diet is about what not to eat. Caffeinated drinks and dairy foods actually limit the amount of iron your body can absorb. If you're a regular cereal person, look for ways to increase iron absorption that might be lost from the milk on your iron-fortified cereal. A glass of orange juice or sliced strawberries on your cereal might be just the thing you need. If you struggle with anemia, consider drinking caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea and soft drinks at other times besides mealtime so that your body can absorb the maximum amount of iron.
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