Re: iron: consume it, in its natural form or supplement, with Vitamin C, you'll absorb it better. Also, if possible, in meals that don't have a lot of calcium, it can block absorption.
Almost any whole grain cereal plus a glass of orange juice will have a lot of iron. Any bean or legume, too.
I'm a RN and a just dragged out my old books to look this up, but I'm not sure if it will help you. In this book it says the levels within normal limits are 160-950 pg/ml, but every lab measures differently depending on their equipment. I know at my work the normal levels are 300-500 on our machines. My level was 309 and my physician told me to take a supplement, which I am bad at. I am going through the same thing as you
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Man, I'm pretty sure I'm suffering from a b-12 deficiency. Lately, as in the last couple months/six months my arms have been losing feeling, and it really sucks. It's really uncomfortable, and sometimes my legs feel that way too..And I'm starting to become weak. This totally sucks..
So I guess I need to get injections? There is no other way? This also sucks because now I have to admit I have a problem/have had one with my diet..which is okay by me, but i'd have to do any doctor type thing through my dad, and this would make him extra pissed off about my diet.......
Neurological Damage sounds pretty bad..that sucks. And see I thought maybe it might not be b12, because I have plenty of vegan friends who don't eat nearly as good as me, and they aren't having any problems.
Wait, so the injections are something I would on my own? See, I could dig that. It seems like way less of a deal if I'm able to do that on my own, instead of seeing a doctor everytime..
I was thinking about taking it because I tend to get heart burn when I'm anxious or eat too fast. Maybe I'll stick to tums or baking soda after all, since it's not an every day thing.
Or I suppose I could take a supplement at a different time of day.
i take a iiquid b12 daily...i love it, the energey alone it gives me is great. ive seen b12 with iron in the lquid form. i just find liquids to absorb better for me.
Stephen Walsh, nutrition adviser to the International Vegetarian Union, recommends using two reliable sources of B12. That is to say, as well as your supplement, use a fortified food e.g. soy milk, nutritional yeast.
He also points out that it's important for vegans to ensure their doctors aren't relying on the standard B12 test:
A blood B12 level measurement is a very unreliable test for vegans, particularly for vegans using any form of algae.§ Algae and some other plant foods contain B12-analogues (false B12) that can imitate true B12 in blood tests while actually interfering with B12 metabolism. Blood counts are also unreliable as high folate intakes suppress the anaemia symptoms of B12 deficiency that can be detected by blood counts. Blood homocysteine testing is more reliable, with levels less than 10 mmol/litre being desirable.§ The most specific test for B12 status is methylmalonic acid (MMA) testing. If this is in the§ normal range in blood (<370 nmol/L) or urine (less than 4 mg /mg creatinine) then your body has enough B12. Many doctors still rely on blood B12 levels and blood counts. These are not adequate, especially in vegans.
Floradix Floravital, from Salus-Haus, is supposed to be very good for iron absorption. My grandfather was "prescribed" it while undergoing chemo, so - at least in Sweden - it's recommended by medical doctors.
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Almost any whole grain cereal plus a glass of orange juice will have a lot of iron. Any bean or legume, too.
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;D
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So I guess I need to get injections? There is no other way?
This also sucks because now I have to admit I have a problem/have had one with my diet..which is okay by me, but i'd have to do any doctor type thing through my dad, and this would make him extra pissed off about my diet.......
Neurological Damage sounds pretty bad..that sucks. And see I thought maybe it might not be b12, because I have plenty of vegan friends who don't eat nearly as good as me, and they aren't having any problems.
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I was thinking about taking it because I tend to get heart burn when I'm anxious or eat too fast. Maybe I'll stick to tums or baking soda after all, since it's not an every day thing.
Or I suppose I could take a supplement at a different time of day.
Reply
ive seen b12 with iron in the lquid form. i just find liquids to absorb better for me.
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A blood B12 level measurement is a very unreliable test for vegans, particularly for vegans using any form of algae.§ Algae and some other plant foods contain B12-analogues (false B12) that can imitate true B12 in blood tests while actually interfering with B12 metabolism. Blood counts are also unreliable as high folate intakes suppress the anaemia symptoms of B12 deficiency that can be detected by blood counts. Blood homocysteine testing is more reliable, with levels less than 10 mmol/litre being desirable.§ The most specific test for B12 status is methylmalonic acid (MMA) testing. If this is in the§ normal range in blood (<370 nmol/L) or urine (less than 4 mg /mg creatinine) then your body has enough B12. Many doctors still rely on blood B12 levels and blood counts. These are not adequate, especially in vegans.
You might find the Vegan Society's pages on B12 and iron helpful, and, as purpletigron mentions, Walsh's Plant Based ( ... )
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My grandfather was "prescribed" it while undergoing chemo, so - at least in Sweden - it's recommended by medical doctors.
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