Most of the iron in your body is in hemoglobin in your red blood cells, and iron-deficiency anemia can develop when you do not get enough iron from your diet. You may be able to treat iron-deficiency anemia with a proper nutritional approach. Consult your doctor to find out how you can use nutrition to manage your iron-deficiency anemia.
Background
According to the Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, people who are often at risk for iron-deficiency anemia include women of child-bearing age, children, vegetarians and individuals who have suffered heavy blood losses. If you have anemia, you may feel tired and weak and you may have a faster rate of breathing when you exercise. Healthy adult women under 50 years old should get about 18mg of iron per day to prevent deficiency, but you may need more to manage your iron-deficiency anemia.
Sources of Iron
Nutritional management of iron-deficiency anemia includes choosing iron-rich foods. The National Institutes of Health says that heme iron is the form that is in animal foods, and sources include beef, pork, chicken, turkey, liver and fish and shellfish. Non-heme iron comes from vegetarian sources such as beans, tofu, spinach, enriched bread and fortified cereals. Your body can absorb heme iron at a rate of about 15 to 35 percent, and non-heme iron at about 2 to 20 percent efficiency.
Other Dietary Factors
Maximize your body's ability to absorb non-heme iron with good nutritional choices. According to the National Institutes of Health, non-heme iron absorption increases if you eat it with meat proteins and vitamin C. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services list oranges, strawberries, red peppers and potatoes as sources of vitamin C. Tannins from tea, protein in soybeans and calcium, especially from supplements, lower the efficiency of non-heme iron absorption.
Considerations
Nutritional management may be enough for you to prevent or cure iron-deficiency anemia, but some individuals may need an iron supplement along with dietary strategies. The National Institutes of Health state that ferrous sulfate and ferrous gluconate are common and relatively absorbable forms iron for treating iron-deficiency anemia, but that it can lead to side effects such as nausea, vomiting and constipation. Follow your doctor's advice for the best way to treat your iron-deficiency anemia.
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