Fe.... Fi Fo Fum

Iron

A chemical element with the symbol Fe (from Latin: ferrum) and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series.

It is the most common element (by mass) forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust. (Source: Wikipedia)



No wonder it's so important to our health and well being!

Iron is essential for human life. The human body needs iron to carry oxygen throughout the body, helping in the production and survival of cells (see more). "Iron from the food you eat is absorbed into the body by the cells that line the gastrointestinal tract; the body only absorbs a small fraction of the iron you ingest. The iron is then released into the blood stream, where a protein called transferrin attaches to it and delivers the iron to the liver. Iron is stored in the liver as ferritin and released as needed to make new red blood cells in the bone marrow. When red blood cells are no longer able to function (after about 120 days in circulation), they are re-absorbed by the spleen. Iron from these old cells can also be recycled by the body."  (Source: American Society of Hematology)


I have had Iron-Deficiency Anemia off and on for the last 10 years. It started with heavy periods around Christmas of 2003 due to Uterine Fibroids. The surgery in May 2004, that removed most of a fibroid that was the root of the problem, and a few months of Ponstel help curb the situation. Although my periods were never back to what had been normal for me. With the help of supplements, I was able to get my Iron levels back up. For the next several years I straddled the line of acceptable levels. I became accustomed to the occasional fatigue, especially around the days of my period. This became my new normal.

I even started donating blood again. This initially gave me a false sense of security, but ended up being a blessing in disguise. You see, when you donate blood they do a screening test. I thought it was to check iron levels, but later learned that it only tests the amount of hemoglobin in your blood. So, because I was able to donate I thought that I was OK. This was slowly depleting the storage of ferritin. I would feel fine enough to donate, and would pass the screening test. I still felt fatigue, but again just thought that this was my new normal. Then I began to not pass the screenings. I struggled with this for a bit, but finally went in for a routine physical, where it was discovered that I was anemic again. I started up with the supplements, taking care to eat foods rich in iron. This seemed to work, but I don't think that I was ever back to my old normal.

Then in October 2011, I had a DVT and it was discovered that I have May-Thurner Syndrome (see my story). This had been building up for quite some time. It caused, or at least contributed to, heavy periods again. This and the fibroids. So, I'm back to being Iron-Deficient. I started taking the supplement Pur-Absorb. It is a liquid that can be added to water or juice and has a much higher absorption rate; and because it is a lower dose of iron, the side effects are lower too (No, I'm not getting paid to say this). It has helped tremendously. My doctors and I are still working on figuring this out, the root cause of the problem. I will fill you in once the story has unfolded.

So today, as I continue my journey of "Eating My Way Back to Healthy", I look for food rich in Iron and continue to take supplements. I'm feeling better all the time, but also know that I am not 100% yet. Nor do I know if I ever will be. In the future, I will focus on a specific food. Hopefully giving some nutritional information and recipes. For my health situation, I  need to avoid or at least watch my intake of foods that help coagulate the blood, like dark leafy greens. I would also rather have natural sources of iron as opposed to "iron-enriched" foods or supplements. I will be using supplements, but want to make sure that I am getting as much nutrition from my diet as possible. Adding in the supplements where necessary to optimize my health.

I hope you will join me.

"To boost the amount of iron in your diet, try these foods:

• Red meat
• Egg yolks
• Dark, leafy greens (spinach, collards)
• Dried fruit (prunes, raisins)
• Iron-enriched cereals and grains (check the labels)
• Mollusks (oysters, clams, scallops)
• Turkey or chicken giblets
• Beans, lentils, chick peas and soybeans
• Liver
• Artichokes

And here's a tip: If you eat iron-rich foods along with foods that provide plenty of vitamin C, your body can better absorb the iron." (Sourse: WebMD.com - Top 10 Iron Rich Foods)

Sources for more information:
WebMD.com - Top 10 Iron Rich Foods
Red Cross - Iron Rich Foods
ClevelandClinic.org - Anemia and Iron Rich Foods
Healthaliciousness.com
American Society of Hematology
Wikipedia.org - Iron-Deficiency Anemia
Wikipedia.org - Human Iron Metabolism
IronDisorders.org
LiveStrong.comFoods That Inhibit Iron Absorption
National Institute of Health