any advice on getting my iron,thyroid levels up?

I've been to the dr and had my bloodwork done, the result it low iron requiring suppliment...and low thyroid, not yet low enough to  need medicating. we all talk about cat health and nutrition around here, can anyone help me on human nutrition?

I have been on and iron suppliment(ferrous Gluconate) for almost 4 months now and my iron levels  have barely budged from where they were to start with, so either I need to change my suppliment, or add better foods, or both. i'm a meat and potatoes girl, so my diet is not exactly extensive lol

If you're on Facebook, look up Thyroid Sexy.  She has TONS of excellent information.  To increase your iron levels, eat raisins and cook using cast iron cookware.
 

Also, ask about a B12 supplement - that's what did it for me.

I'm not sure what you can do for the iron levels except ask your doctor to prescribe a higher dosage. I know there are foods you can eat with iron but your body may need a "boost" to get it going. I had that problem with vitamin D. the low normal is 7 and my blood work came back .4. After being prescribed 10,000 mg once a week I definitely can tell the difference.

Also, what tests did they run on your thyroid? Did they do the nuclear Iodine test? I was thought to have an under active thyroid until they did that test, and my thyroid started functioning overtime. My doctor described it like a kid on Easter morning eating a ton of candy. It turns out my body wasn't getting enough (or processing enough) iodine which the thyroid needs to function. I'm able to keep that aspect normal by taking an OTC kelp pill once a day. I do have goiters so it will probably go downhill in the future but it may be something you want to check in to.

The BEST way to increase anything in your body is to eat the food that research has shown to have in it.

supplements do not do as good a job as food.

Good luck!

Kim

calico2222 said:

I'm not sure what you can do for the iron levels except ask your doctor to prescribe a higher dosage. I know there are foods you can eat with iron but your body may need a "boost" to get it going. I had that problem with vitamin D. the low normal is 7 and my blood work came back .4. After being prescribed 10,000 mg once a week I definitely can tell the difference.

Also, what tests did they run on your thyroid? Did they do the nuclear Iodine test? I was thought to have an under active thyroid until they did that test, and my thyroid started functioning overtime. My doctor described it like a kid on Easter morning eating a ton of candy. It turns out my body wasn't getting enough (or processing enough) iodine which the thyroid needs to function. I'm able to keep that aspect normal by taking an OTC kelp pill once a day. I do have goiters so it will probably go downhill in the future but it may be something you want to check in to.

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iodine.....salt? really? the only salt i eat is in boxed foods or potato chips, as I don't have a taste for the stuff...........it never occurred to me that I might need it? all they've done so far on my thyroid is a simple blood test, its the iron they're really watching, since my levels are low enough they're making me sick in spite of taking a suppliment.......there's talk of regulating my periods to stop me losing iron that way, since I have a really short cycle but birth control could cause stokes in people with migraines, so doc wants me to think about iud(I'm not thrilled at the idea of an implant)

I have had trouble with my iron levels and the dr. wanted me to take iron supplements.  I didn't want to do that as iron can build up in your system and cause problems.  I researched the foods and this is what I did.

black strap molasses not regular molasses.  you can buy it at some groceries or health food stores.  Put it by your kitchen sink and take it by the tablespoon several times a day.

Total cereal - It provided one hundred percent of the recommended daily requirement for iron.

Spinach or other greens

Do your research for other foods with high iron levels.  Eating the right foods is more absorbed than supplements.

When I went back to my doctor, she said keep on with the supplements.  When I told here what I was doing, she said keep on with that.  It works.

thanks, since i'm either not absorbing the suppliment, or I'm losing it  quickly.....i'll try the mollasses.  heard iron is better absorbed in liquid form anyway. I also picked up a new crock pot and i'm adding Lentils to stews when i make them. Everyone says spinach but I never liked it...any suggestions on how to make it more palatable? 

Matts mom said:

iodine.....salt? really? the only salt i eat is in boxed foods or potato chips, as I don't have a taste for the stuff...........it never occurred to me that I might need it? 

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Well, I don't think it's salt per say (like table salt), more the natural iodine that is found in seafood and shell fish. DH is allergic to actual iodine and if he take one of my kelp pills by mistake he WILL be in the ER, but he loves salt so it's different. 

I had absorption issues with other nutrients and, for me, when I got my thyroid straightened out they all improved. If your thyroid isn't functioning properly it can throw everything else off.

As for spinach, if you like salads you probably have had raw spinach. It's really pretty good! I can't handle cooked spinach (was forced to eat is as a kid because it was "good for me") but try it raw in a salad. Also, beets are very high in iron.

Yes, salt isn't the same thing as iodine, but natural sea-salt tends to come with it, if I recall correctly, and companies do (or at least used to) put iodine in table salt to help folks get enough of it easily. That might be what calico2222 was talking about.

I tend to have low iron also. I've made up for this in the past by cooking things in an iron skillet, and eating a decent amount of red meat (which it sounds like you might already be doing). I also have a kind of natural children's chewable vitamin which comes with iron and some of the associated vitamins you're supposed to take with it, which has helped loads and is much easier to take than those cruddy adult supplements. Gummy bears, man!

Definitely make sure you're getting all your vitamins, too. Iron is one of those things where your body tends to have an easier time picking it up when you also take its "friends" (the B vitamins, I believe) as well, so if you're focusing on iron specifically, that could be one reason be why you're not absorbing as much of it as you should be.

i found an adult multi that's chewable, planning on picking it up next paycheque. i also found iron pills in a time-release capsule, that'll give me 100mg over the day instead of 35mg in one drop.........the pharmacist says i shouldn't have the digestive issues from this new one, and so far i haven't   I'm taking them with oranges now, to to help me absorb it 

One thing to be careful about when taking iron supplements is constipation.  Be sure to eat plenty of fruits and veggies!!
 

That's my biggest problem 

 i wondered about also taking a fibre suppliment, since I'd hate to have to rely on taking something to make things move...maybe I could mix some metamucil into my morning shake?