Shan Xue
18th May 2005, 01:14 PM
knowing that many females fail the hameoglobin test and hence can't donate blood, i would like to share information on how a vegetarian increase her iron level to quality for blood donation.
I am a blood donor and before each donation, I try to get the iron levels up by the following ways:
1) Eat lots of lentils, pumpkin seeds, green, leafy vegetables etc.
2) Eat vitamin-C rich food together with iron-rich food. Vit C increases absorption of iron by the body.
3) Avoid drinking tea/coffee/caffeine-rich drinks 1 hour before and after food. Caffeine interferes with the absorption of iron by the body by more than 80%!
4) To be safe (so that I don't get disqualified), I take iron supplements 1 week before the date of scheduled donation.
I read the spinach contains oxalic acid (which gives spinach its biting taste) that actually inhibits the absorption of iron by the body. So while spinach may be rich in iron, much of the iron could not be absorbed. I also hear that eating diary food with iron-rich food can hinder iron absorption. So if you're not taking that much iron-rich food, may want to consider timing your food intake
-lutein
http://www.vegetarian-society.org/forums/viewthread.php?tid=2313
I am a blood donor and before each donation, I try to get the iron levels up by the following ways:
1) Eat lots of lentils, pumpkin seeds, green, leafy vegetables etc.
2) Eat vitamin-C rich food together with iron-rich food. Vit C increases absorption of iron by the body.
3) Avoid drinking tea/coffee/caffeine-rich drinks 1 hour before and after food. Caffeine interferes with the absorption of iron by the body by more than 80%!
4) To be safe (so that I don't get disqualified), I take iron supplements 1 week before the date of scheduled donation.
I read the spinach contains oxalic acid (which gives spinach its biting taste) that actually inhibits the absorption of iron by the body. So while spinach may be rich in iron, much of the iron could not be absorbed. I also hear that eating diary food with iron-rich food can hinder iron absorption. So if you're not taking that much iron-rich food, may want to consider timing your food intake
-lutein
http://www.vegetarian-society.org/forums/viewthread.php?tid=2313