Food as Medicine Part 2 - Iron Deficiency

Dandelion Taraxacum officinale is just one of the herbs that may help in aiding the healing of iron deficiency.

Good evening everyone!

Last week I opened the topic of how our diets tie into our health. This week I want to speak of nutrient deficiencies, but where to start? I've typed, back spaced, retyped, deleted, pondered, and finally came to a conclusion: I had to take this a nutrient at a time - too much to discuss! So this week I have decided to speak about not just any deficiencies, but of anemia - a common iron deficiency.

But first, there are many nutrient deficiencies one can have. Over the next few weeks we'll discuss herbs and their aid in helping our bodies with vitamins and minerals. If you have any questions whether or not you are deficient, ask a doctor for a test.

Now back to iron deficiency.

Iron deficiency is actually the most common nutrition deficiency in women (can also be found in men, of course) and could be noted by some tell-tale signs:

• sensitivity to the cold
• muscle aches
• chronic fatigue
• craving for ice
• lack of interest in every day tasks or relationships
• memory issues
• headaches
• mood swings
• depression

Because of my iron deficiency, before I started supplementing through diet, I dealt with very cold hands that turned blue/black, severe muscle cramps, I was constantly tired, and poor memory and attention spans were just a few of my problems that I'm knocking off my list one by one.

Severe iron deficiencies can lead to heart problems and even in some cases heart attacks. Thank goodness I've not had to deal with those, but I feel so sorry for those who have.
​
Iron deficiency can come from the body not being able to absorb iron properly, or not getting enough iron through your diet. Heavy blood loss can cause iron deficiency, such as heavy menstrual flow. Pregnancy is another factor in many iron deficiencies.

How do we curve this issue?

Well, you can supplement iron deficiency through diet and even mineral supplement tablets. I prefer supplementing through diet, but I also take one tablet a day of my Nature's Sunshine Chelated Iron tablets with a glass of O.J. - the Vitamin C in the O.J. helps absorb the iron. (Vitamin B12 and folic acid also help absorb iron and B12 deficient anemia and folic acid deficient anemia exist.) By doing this, it's not such a big deal if I'm unable to properly include iron into my diet.

Contact me if you are interested in getting Nature's Sunshine products for a good price!

     There are certain herbs you can add into your diet that may help your iron deficiency. 

• Dandelion Taraxacum officinale (you can make a coffee out of the roots - be sure to harvest before the flower blooms or else you loose nutrients in the roots)
• Chickweed Stellaria media (also contains copper - which aids in the absorption of iron such as iron aids in the absorption of copper)
• Rose hips Rosa mosqueta (and is also one of the highest herbs in Vitamin C, aiding in the absorption of iron)
• Mullein Verbascum thapsus (great for protecting against colds)
• Hops Humulus lupulus
• Parsley Petroselinum crispum
• Nettle Urtica dioica 
• Red clover Trifolium pratense

     Making teas, infusions, or even adding any of these to your meals daily will help your body receive iron.  If you'd like to know how to make a tea or infusion, check out my post with the formulas.

     Making green juices out of vegetable high in iron such as the following will also help you receive your daily iron:

• spinach
• red tomatoes
• kale 
• arugula 
• okra
• broccoli 
• certain peppers such as green bell peppers
• eggplant 

     Don't forget red meat is also great for iron! I'm not much of a red meat eater, however, so I supplement in other ways usually. 

     Now I'm craving a mixed salad with spinach, kale, red tomatoes, small pieces of cut up steak, garlic, onion, and a zesty lemon vinaigrette. Yummy!

     I hope this post has helped you learn just the basics of iron deficiencies and what you can do to help over come this common problem. If you have any questions, please contact me! 

     Until the next post, good health to you and yours!