Vegetarian//general healthy lifestyle Group

by TGally on Jul 28, 2008 at 10:02 am

How did the blood draw go?

by triara on Jul 28, 2008 at 10:43 am

I go try again today when they open. I was too shaky on Friday to go out much. I figured I shouldn't be giving blood when I already had vertigo. :-~

by ajdeeelite on Jul 28, 2008 at 11:51 am

Well, cooking food regardless of the way we cook it is going to change the food in some way. There's still a loss of vitamins and nutritional value (however slight) that is caused when you cook food.

However, I do agree that microwaves are about as unnatural as it gets when it comes to preparing food. I try to use mine as little as possible at home (usually just for eggs, potatoes, or hot cereal). But I do use it frequently at work to heat up my lunch. There's really no way around it unless I bring a sandwich every day since we don't have a stove at work.

One thing I have done is stopped using plastic in the microwave. The though of plastic leaching into my food is just not appetizing.

by Rhin99 on Jul 28, 2008 at 1:42 pm

I try to steam veggies whenever possible. It's faster than boiling, and there's no water to wash away nutrients. It doesn't take a whole lot longer than microwaving, either.

by triara on Jul 28, 2008 at 3:04 pm

I went and tried to give blood again. I have plenty of iron for me, but not enough to share. So I am making lentil soup. :) I am really reviewing that link about iron that someone posted. I put a lot of tomatoes in it and green bell peppers. Because they enhance absorption of iron. FYI for those of you who missed it, it is at http://www.healthcastle.com/iron.shtml

I am working on getting my iron in away from things that make it harder to absorb, and really hope that this works! I ate hamburger and it didn't even help! At least it tastes good!

Edited by triara, on July 28th, 2008 at 7:13 pm.

by ajdeeelite on Jul 28, 2008 at 3:08 pm

Tip: Eating/drinking foods high in Vitamin C will help you retain the iron you eat from iron-rich foods.

I've had problems the past few years trying to give blood because often my iron count was too low. Last month was the first time in awhile where all my vitals were right on and could give!

by nightmareish on Jul 28, 2008 at 3:24 pm

I've recently moved, quite far. I miss my convection oven, I have a microwave here and I am guilty of zapping all my veggies in there. DISHES! I like to save the time. Cooking on the stove - Saucepans... strainers. Plates VS A plastic container.

Chyeah...but I've never had a problem donating blood & I've always eaten my veggies this way. If I feel the need I take vitamins.

by triara on Jul 28, 2008 at 9:05 pm

well I have gone vegan and I am just learning about high iron foods. I made lentil soup tonight with both green bell peppers and lots of canned tomatoes since they both enhance iron absorption. I have quit the acid blocker I was taking, I no longer need it and it was really interfering with digestion. No heartburn. 103 lbs down makes a difference in that. I may get some acerola cherry vit C tabs to chew when I am eating high iron foods. I love spinach salad, but will need to steam it to get the iron out of it. Blackstrap molasses is high in iron and easy to work into things.

by nightmareish on Jul 29, 2008 at 6:34 am

Acerola Cherry vit C tabs? Oooooh, where'd you get those? - they sound yummy ^_^

Vegan? all the best to you - and well done on the 103lbs! Yeah! you go girl! I can understand why you need to keep all the vitamins/nutrients and irons in your veg now.

by TGally on Jul 29, 2008 at 10:06 am

FYI: Regular canned tomatoes = HIGH sodium! I'm sure you know that because you know lots about food, but just in case! ;)

by triara on Aug 1, 2008 at 1:21 am

I don't add a whole lot of the salt elsewhere. It works out. You can get acerola cherry vitamin C tabs in a lot of health food stores. They are yummy but if you eat too many they start being a bit way too sour. I like them infrequently.