Iron woman! Women, exercise, and iron

[han-grrl]

I had been diagnosed with low iron last year...

I was sleeping ALL the time. i couldn't get enough energy. I had my blood checked and the nurse said it was within normal limits. I had to findout what they meant. I was actually just within limits and certainly way too low for someone training for mtb racing. I went on iron supplements and started to feel way better. even emotionally. i was just more well, level headed. Because i was so exhausted i was also very emotional. so that is my little experience with low iron.

[Nanci]

One good thing about the depo shot (well, besides not having a period!) is I don't have to worry about low iron any more. I used to have to supplement for a week before donating blood, but now I don't have to any more, ever.

Nanci

[RoadRaven]

I see you are having Vit C supplements with your iron - most excellent because Vit C helps the body to absorb more iron than it would without the Vit C
Have VitC rich foods or juices with every meal and that will help as will

Good luck

[DirtDiva]

And tea/coffee shortly before/after a meal will reduce your iron absorption.

[Dogmama]

And tea/coffee shortly before/after a meal will reduce your iron absorption.

Decaf too?

[RoadRaven]

Caffeine is better for you than decaf... you know what they do to make coffee caffeine-less?

*shudders*

Drink coffe, not decaf, just not with your iron-rich food...

[DirtDiva]

Well, I do know what we had to do to get the caffeine out of teabags in chem labs. Of course, we were trying to preserve the caffiene rather than the tea, but I doubt the solvents used are any less nasty. But I don't think about that - I come form the "if it ain't got caffeine in it I may as well drink some brown water" school of thought. I mean, Caffeine-free Diet Coke? What's left?