Anemia.....any Thoughts, Suggestions or Personal Experiences?

Hi A.!

The women in my family and some of the men are anemic. Recentley my aunt went to the doctor and found she has Celiac Disease. I've suspected I have it and I know my daughter does. This caused malabsorption of a lot of vitamins especially iron. When I'm off wheat I notice more energy and my iron levels go up. Just a thought.

Has your doctor done anything to determine why she is anemic? Has she been this way since she was an infant, or is this new? It is really important to determine the cause of the anemia, though children have such a high need for iron due growth the majority of children just aren't getting enough. That being said, there are MANY different causes of anemia including, but certainly not limited to: inadequate intake (the most common in this age group), inability of the body to absorb iron from the intestine (side-stepping with an injection can solve the problem), inability to use iron to make hemoglobin for cell growth, premature destruction of red blood cells, lead poisoning, or some underlying disease. I'm not trying to scare you, just trying to make you aware of the range of the causes of anemia. Since the most likely cause is simply that she is growing so fast at this age that she doesn't get enough from her diet supplementation will probably do the trick, so ask your doc.

Hope this helps,
S.

Hi A.,

iron supplementation with anything that has the word "ferrous" in it has several side effects. Most your doctor wont tell you or know about. The most common one is constipation, and there is nothing more helpless than to see your child straining and crying in pain on the potty. But also, those kinds of supplements don't work very well. They are extremely difficult for the body to absorb. My advice it to go online and look for natural iron supplements and sources. Calcium and iron block each other, so avoid milk products as much as possible. There are many dairy alternatives out there, but avoid soy, as it is high in estrogen, and most likely genetically modified as it is the largest crop to be such. The internet is a wonderful tool, use it for asking the same questions you are asking here. Your best bet for iron are natural ones so be sure to include that in your wording when you search online. I know vitamin C helps with iron absorption, so make sure she gets lots of that. Talk with a naturopath if you can, their knowledge of vitamins and minerals far exceeds that of a conventional doctor, whose education in that area is limited and optional during medical school. Good Luck

T.

Well, I don't think I was ever anemic as a child, but my mother was. She had to take a spoonful of molasses every day. It helped. She's not anemic anymore.

I'm currently 38 weeks pregnant. About a month ago, my midwife became concerned that I was anemic and said I needed to get more iron. I already eat a number of iron-rich foods (beans, prunes, raisins, etc.), and when I'm not pregnant my iron levels are dead normal. But by the third trimester they start to get low if I don't supplement. So instead of taking iron pills (which are notorious for making pregnant women more constipated) I opted to take molasses every day. Beef liver is the highest source of iron, with molasses being the second highest--and for a vegetarian, THE highest source. So I started taking a tablespoon of blackstrap molasses every day (Grandma's molasses has less than half the iron that blackstrap does). Fred Meyer's sells a very good tasting brand, GloryBee. I like the taste and will eat it on toast or waffles, but usually we have savory breakfasts, so I either just eat it off the spoon or mix it with a smoothie (banana, molasses, my omega 3 oil, and anything else I feel like putting in), and it tastes delicious. You could add it to hot chocolate or whatever, but she might like the taste of it on its own. I'm not sure how old she is, but I'm sure 2-3 teaspoons a day wouldn't be too much. You could always ask your doctor. And keep in mind that the iron in molasses is much better absorbed than the iron in pills, so it is really the best alternative for almost everyone.

I will mention that before I was taking the molasses, when I was anemic, I would run out of steam by the end of lunch. It was all I could do to get the dishes done and then crash for the afternoon while my daughter slept. I wasn't necessarily tired enough to take a nap, but if I didn't sit down for an hour or two and just relax, I couldn't get dinner for my husband or do anything productive in the evening. Now I can keep going all day if I need to--though I still try to relax a bit in the afternoon. My energy is better, my color is better, and I feel a lot better, too.

Hope this helps!

A.,
My daughter was very anemic when she was young. I tried my best to have her eat liver, raisons and everything else that had natural iron in it. It was never enough. The doctor advised her to be given liquid iron suplements. This was a nasty, smelly liquid and my daughter hated it. Also, it stained everything that it touched. We faithfully forced my daughter to drink this 3 times a day as the doctor prescribed for 4 months. Each bi weekly visit to the doctor proved that her anemia levels were not getting better. (very frustrating) Finally, a friend of mine recommended a naturopath.( I will look for the number for you) Anyway, one phone call to the naturopath and a questionaire that I filled out about my daughter and the doctor gave me a natural remedy that was some pellets that disolved into water and my daughter took only two times and was cured. My daughter is now a different child. My daughter was not asorbing the iron that she was eating. It is amazing the difference! I will do my best to get you the number. I wish you best of luck.

I was anemic as child and they fed me liver like mad, but don't do that now, as the live is full of toxins. Try apricots, spinach if you are looking for fresh natural foods.
That is as far as my information goes. You might try a naturopath for more information.

I have struggled with anemia myself and know how hard it is for the body to absorb iron. I have found that it is best to try to do it with whole foods that are rich in iron and vitamin c. Also, don't use a lot of dairy as it tends to inhibit the absorption. For the past 2 years I have used a product called, "Juice Plus". It is fruits and vegetables in capsule, chewable and gummy form,backed up by 13 published studies that show it improves the immune system, lowers free radicals, protects DNA and more. You get the nutritional equivalent of 17 servings of fruits,veggies and 2 grains everyday! I haven't been denied giving blood because of my hemoglobin since! I love the product so much I decided to begin my own virtual franchise and have a nice home based business now. You can check it out at www.dblairjuiceplus.com and see what you think.
Good luck,
D.

Hi A.,
I do know that iron supplements can cause constipation... Just something to look out for. Good luck.

i have low ferritin levels even when i eat iron-rich foods, due to heavy periods. taking floradix liquid supplement brought my levels. it is one of those nasty-tasting liquids but it doesn't constipate me at all.

after reading your posts, i may give the molasses a try as that sounds much tastier.

either way, know that she shouldn't eat a lot of calcium when she takes her iron supplements, etc because calcium blocks iron absorption.

I don't know very much about anemia, especially in children. I've been anemic and suggest that if you supplement orally, to be sure to give it to her after she's eaten. I was nauseous and vomiting for days before I learned that iron does not set well on an empty stomach.

I had anemia growing up and had to have iron supplements. It didn't do anything other than make me healthier and turn my #2's black. She'll be okay, Mama.

The consequences of being anemic outweigh any concerns over treatment. Your pediatrician will prescribe or recommend the appropriate iron supplements for your daughter. Make sure that you follow the directions closely. Over supplementing is hazardous, so don't confuse your daughter with 'this is a treat', thisis most definitely medicine that only Mom or Dad can give her. Never have her get it herself, never!!!! Her appearance, her energy level..so many things will improve. Again, talk with your pediatrician. Ask all your questions there and don't leave until you get the answers. You may not like the answers, but you need to hear them, and ask follow-up questions if need be. If your doctor doesn't want to spend the time answering and working with you, start looking for a new pediatrician.

When I was pregnant I found out that chelated iron is better absorbed by the body. Also, try cooking with cast iron. That helps. I midwife even handed out cast iron pots to her patients. I have been anemic my whole life.

The big concern with iron supplement is constipation. There are vegetable stool softeners on the market that I took while I was on iron during my pregnancy and it helped. You didn't say how old your daughter is, but it's definately worth talking with your ped. about. Vitamin C also helps with iron absorbtion so 1/2 an orange with her iron rich foods will help her body make the most of the iron she's already eating.

Hi A.,

I would be interested to find out what her iron absorption is. That is a VERY important factor. Then, if you do decide to supplement maybe some research into the benefits of different types of iron supplements. There are definitely some that are absorbed easier than others. Just my thoughts.

D. Rylander