I donate blood and am a vegetarian. My doctor told me I had low iron.

I recently had a medical examination. The only problem that turned up was low iron. I forget the units, but my hemoglobin was 12.1. The doctor told me I should be 14 or more (for men). I hadn't thought I had a problem since I regularly donate blood. I have since found out that...

What are ways to get iron if you do not eat red meat and iron pills make you sick?

What are other ways to eat iron if you do not eat red meat and iron supplement pills make you sick? While red meats are the best source of heme iron which is highly absorbable. Leafy greens are a vegetable source which contains non-heme a lesser absorbable form of iron. The drawback tho is that leafy...

Cooking spaghetti sauce in a cast iron pot adds a lot of iron. Is iron absorbed?

I read in a parent's magazine that cooking spaghetti sauce in a cast iron pot adds a lot of iron. Is that iron the kind that is absorbed? It is true that foods cooked in cast iron skillets are higher in iron. However, the form of iron is not absorbed as well. Laboratory nutrient analysis...

I am a teacher and have assigned a written report on pica.

I am a teacher and have assigned a written report on pica. We are having trouble locating articles and just plain information on the subject. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you. There is quite a bit of information on my iron topic. If you have more questions, write back.

I have heard that it is not good for you to take iron pills because of the free radicals?

Hi, I have heard that it is not good for you to take iron pills because of the free radicals (I'm not sure if it's correct English). Is this true? I have now got a serum iron of 6 and I understand it is not good. Is there a better way of getting compliments (if...

How would I get daily iron requirement if I eat a balanced diet, but no meat?

How would a person get their daily iron requirement if that person eats a balanced diet, but eats no meat? The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for iron is 10 milligrams for adult males and postmenopausal females. Males (ages 11 to 18) need 12 milligrams of iron per day. Females (ages 11 to 50 years) need...

Have you ever heard of pica and eating paper?

I am a 33-year-old married mother of one. I have what I feel is an embarrassing and possibly life-threatening disorder. Some years ago I was diagnosed as being anemic. The iron level was so low that the doctor asked if I ate or craved anything unusual. I told him that I crave and chew...