Rex Adams
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 It isn't enough to eat iron-rich foods, or take iron supplements. It doesn't work unless there are enough B complex vitamins for the iron to be utilized. Garlic increases the absorption of B vitamins, especially vitamin B-l.
2. Copper, too, which garlic contains, is needed for iron assimilation. Also important, copper is needed for absorption and use of vitamin C from other foods.
3. Vitamin C vastly increases the assimilation of iron from food. |
Gale Maleskey
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 For people with hemochromatosis, taking iron supplements can be dangerous. cles, that picks up and stores additional oxygen for use when muscles have to go at it long and hard. When you're low on iron, your capacity for exercise is reduced because your myoglobin can't transport enough oxygen to the muscles for the long haul.
The Energy Hand-Off
True, oxygen is needed for a cell's energy production, but iron plays another vital role in the energy-producing process as part of a cell's energy "assembly line. |
Dr. Gary Null
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 Only 3 percent of pregnant women given iron supplements were anemic at delivery, compared to 30 percent of a group given placebos. The iron status of the babies at birth and 2 months after delivery correlated with their mothers' iron status, particularly during the 7th month of pregnancy.
C. De Benanze et al., "Prevention de I'anemie Ferriprive Au Cours de la Grossesse par une Supplementation Martiale Precoce: un Essai Controle," [Prevention of Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Pregnancy Using Early Iron Supplementation: A Controlled Trial], Rev. Epidemiol. Sante Publique 37 (1989): 109-18. |
| Repletion with iron supplements raised the work volume and improved its quality. It also improved the state of health, activity and mood.
E. A. Kuleschova and N. V. Riabova, "Effect of Iron Deficiency of the Body on the Work of Capacity of Women Engaged in Mental Work," Ter Arkh 61, no. 1 (1989): 92-95.
Studies have found that 75-91% of treated patients experienced pronounced relief of fatigue during treatment with aspartates, compared to 5-25% of controls. Patients usually continued treatment for 4-6 weeks; afterward fatigue frequently did not return.
A. R. |
Lita Lee, Lisa Turner and Burton Goldberg
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 I do not recommend iron supplements for anyone unless they are anemic from blood loss or illness, and then only herbal forms of iron such as that found in Thera-zyme Spl.
Asthma Drugs
During the last decade, adrenaline mimics, called beta agonists, have become the drugs of choice to control asthma. At the same time, there has been a sharp increase in the death rate from cardiovascular failure in asthmatics using these drugs. Adrenaline and its synthetic drug-mimics seem to cause chronic degeneration of the aorta. |
Barrie R Cassileth, Ph.D.
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 Never give children adult iron supplements, which can poison them.
IVYaGNESIUM ^A for Women: 280 mg (milligrams).
RDA for Pregnant Women: 320 mg. RDA for Men: 350 mg.
Purpose: Helps form and maintain bones and teeth; reduces risk of osteoporosis; with calcium, regulates muscle activity; builds protein and converts food to energy; protects body against disease. Source: Whole grains, fish, nuts, leafy green vegetables, milk. Signs of Deficiency: Vomiting, muscle weakness, heart palpitations, tremor. Deficiency rare. Signs of Overdose: Fatigue, muscle weakness. Supplement Needed? |
Leo Galland
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 Do not use iron supplements unless you are pregnant or deficient in iron.
?Supplement your diet with flax oil 1 tablespoon a day, vitamin E 400 mg a day, vitamin C 2,000 mg a day, granular lecithin 2 tablespoons a day, dimethylglycine 120 mg a day, and the immune-stimulating mushrooms shiitake and reishi.
?Avoid the use of antibiotics for acute respiratory infections like colds, bronchitis, and sinusitis. They are demonstrated not to be effective for these conditions and their use only increases the rate of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. |
| Never take iron supplements unless you have diagnosed iron deficiency. Pregnancy is the possible exception to this rule; check with your obstetrician. The best test for iron deficiency is a blood test called the serum ferritin level. Ferritin is a protein that carries iron, and low ferritin levels are a common sign of iron deficiency. Like all laboratory tests, the meaning of a ferritin level is subject to interpretation. |
| The high frequency of negative responses to iron supplements in Africa and Asia may reflect the interaction between iron and zinc.
Iron in food or pills interferes with zinc absorption and supplemental iron can aggravate zinc deficiency, which profoundly depresses immune function. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for zinc, 12 to 15 mg/day, is based on the assumption that 40 percent of the zinc that is swallowed is absorbed into the body. Actually, only 17 to 35 percent of the zinc you eat gets absorbed, depending on what you eat with it. |
| Only take iron supplements for as long as your doctor recommends to correct a deficiency. This should take no longer than six months. Don't take iron as part of a multivitamin or multimineral preparation. Iron interferes with the absorption of the essential minerals zinc, manganese, and molybdenum; it destroys vitamin E; its own absorption is blocked by calcium and magnesium. Iron is best absorbed after a meal, with a small quantity of vitamin C (between one hundred and five hundred milligrams). |
Stephen T., M.D. Sinatra
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 Since only a few tablets can cause fatal shock in very young children, it is absolutely essential that parents keep any iron supplements as well as adult multivitamin and mineral preparations away from children. Also, children's chewable vitamins, made to resemble and taste like candy, have proven a dangerous temptation to small children.
Despite these concerns, parents can safely give their children vitamin and mineral supplements, providing that the formula does not contain more than the RDA of iron appropriate for the child's age. |
Larry Trivieri, Jr.
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 There, after being hooked up to intravenous tubes and given iron supplements, she was told to make an appointment for a D & C (dilatation and curettage, minor surgery to scrape tissue from the uterine lining). However, Claire was terrified of even minor surgery and instead sought help from acupuncturist and herbalist Jason Elias, M.A., L.Ac., of Integral Health Associates, in New Paltz, New York.4
After feeling Claire's wrist pulses, which were weak, and looking at Claire's tongue, which was pale and bloated, Dr. |
Stephen T., M.D. Sinatra
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| Since we can obtain much of the iron we need from our diet, it is not recommended that healthy men and postmenopausal women take iron supplements. Young women, however, could benefit from taking iron on a daily basis, especially when pregnant.
Iron overload can go unnoticed and may be quite insidious in its onset. Since iron is stored in the body, excessive iron taken over a considerable period of time can cause problems, particularly in the liver, heart, and pancreas. |
Elson M. Haas, M.D.
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 These increased iron stores usually come not from diet but from iron supplements or blood transfusions. Symptoms of iron toxicity include fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and a grayish hue to the skin. Iron has been found in increased levels in joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and may contribute to inflammation through increased hydroxyl free radicals. Supplementation should be avoided by patients with arthritis unless a proven iron deficiency is present. |
Gale Maleskey
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| No one knows why iron deficiency would cause such strange behavior, but often, when the deficiency is corrected with iron supplements, eating habits return to normal, Dr. Crosby says. Even the woman with a taste for socks got back to normal with iron supplementation.
Sometimes, people who are iron-deficient compulsively chew ice or gum or eat crunchy, salty, or sour foods such as potato chips, pickles, or unripe fruit, Dr. Crosby says. The name for this is food pica, which is the most common type in the United States. |
| Iron deficiency is the most common, and it's possible to become iron-deficient if you're regularly losing blood or if you aren't getting much iron in your
Add to Your Iron with Yellow Dook
One problem with iron supplements Is their tendency to cause constipation. That's why one popular herbal tonic for iron-deficiency anemia, Floradex, includes an herb called yellow dock. |
J. Robert Hatherill
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 Do not take iron supplements. þEat plenty of dark green leafy vegetables. þTry to consume free-range beef. þFollow the cancer-busting regimen.
CM! LHIILLR
Dairy
When asked what single change in the American diet would produce the greatest health benefits, Washington, D.C.-based pediatrician Dr. Russell Bunai said, "Eliminate dairy products." Besides higher levels of fat, diary products have some serious health effects.
Dangers of Dairy þDiabetes. Infants with milk allergies make antibodies against milk proteins that are linked to destroying cells in the pancreas. þCataracts. |
James Braly M.D. and Ron Hoggan M.A.
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 To repeat, do not take iron supplements unless you need them. Excessive iron can cause potentially life-threatening damage to the heart, liver, and pancreas.
Potassium Supplementation
Potassium deficiency is associated with irregular heartbeat, salt-sensitive high blood pressure, enlarged kidneys, kidney failure, recurring kidney stones, and fatal strokes. Commonly, chronic diarrhea is the underlying cause. Therefore, potassium is another mineral that should be closely monitored. |
Michael Janson, M.D.
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 Too much iron can stimulate the production of free radicals, so it is important to be cautious with both iron supplements and food sources. Studies in Finland and elsewhere have shown that excess iron accumulation is a strong risk factor for the development of heart disease. It is also associated with increased cancer rates. Much of this excess iron comes from meat in the diet.
I only recommend supplements of iron if there is a demonstrated need for it, based on clinical and laboratory evidence. Because of poor diet, iron deficiency is quite common. |
| Unless you have a demonstrated need for iron, it is a good idea to avoid supplements that contain it, although these studies were not done with iron supplements.
By careful lifestyle choices some of these free-radical sources can be avoided and others can be counteracted. By making these choices for yourself you can slow down the aging process, decrease the risk of cancer and heart disease and promote high energy and a vital, healthy feeling of well-being. One way to protect yourself from free-radical damage is to take dietary supplements. |
Carol Simontacchi
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 If you suspect that you may be deficient in this mineral, please consult with your nutritionally rrained physician before using iron supplements.
• Attention difficulty
• Fatigue
• Pale skin
• Hyperactivity
• Brittle, ridged fingernails, or fingernails that are spoon-shaped
• Chronic dull headaches
• Inflammation of the tongue
• The urge to eat nonfood substances (sand, paint, dirt, etc.) Symptoms of Zinc Deficiency
Zinc is another critical "brain nutrient," and is commonly undersup-plied in the American diet. |
Bradley J. Willcox, D. Craig Willcox, and Makoto Suzuki
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 Men and postmenopausal women should avoid iron supplements because iron can act as a pro-oxidant and may increase your risk for heart disease (currently an active area of study).97
• Avoid vitamin K supplements, which can increase blood clotting. Instead get K naturally through a wide range of vegetables, especially greens, broccoli, radishes, cabbages, beans, canola and soybean oils, and green tea. Anyone taking the drug Coumadin (warfarin) should strictly avoid supplementing with vitamin K because of micronutrient-drug interactions. |
Mark Bricklin
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 Dairy products are very poor sources. iron supplements may be indicated, in daily amounts ranging from 50 to 100 milligrams, or even more on your doctor's advice. A good iron supplement also contains folic acid and vitamin B12.
Smooth Sailing through the Whole Cycle
Many women would consider themselves "lucky" if cramps and backaches for two or three days each month were all they had to worry about. |
Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D.
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 Do you take iron supplements when your iron intake is marginal? _
8. Do you avoid severe calorie-restricted diets? _
9. Do you snack lightly or not at all in the evening? _
10. Do you avoid eating large meals? _
I I. Do you drink at least six glasses of water each day? _
12. Do you avoid tobacco? _
13. Do you limit alcohol intake to five drinks or fewer each week? _
14. Do you get at least seven hours of restful sleep each night? _
15. Do you take time each day to relax? _
16. Do you exercise daily? _
Scoring:
More than 40: Your diet and lifestyle support high energy. |
Stephen T., M.D. Sinatra
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| Individuals who ingest considerable quantities of iron in their drinking water in addition to taking iron supplements may develop headaches, shortness of breath, and fatigue—symptoms of iron overload. Using iron cookware is yet another source by which one can ingest additional amounts of iron. Earlier I discussed with you the cautious use of excess vitamin C in situations of iron overload. If your serum iron and other iron indices are elevated, you need to be careful about ingesting iron and vitamin C. It is best to see your physician if you are in doubt about the iron stores in your body. |
Nicola Reavley
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 Tests showed that the girls who took the iron supplements performed better on the verbal learning and memory tests than the girls who took placebo. Both groups scored the same on tests measuring their ability to pay attention and concentrate. There was a direct relationship between how much the blood iron levels went up and the ability to learn.14
Interactions with other nutrients
Iron in the ferric form oxidizes vitamin E and reduces its effectiveness. Ferrous forms of iron do not usually interact with vitamin E. Vitamin E may reduce the possible harmful oxidative effects of iron. |
Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 2Michael T. Murray, ND
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| The conclusion of the study, "Iron deficiency, with or without anemia",23 is an important contributor to the development of RLS (restless legs syndrome) in elderly patients, and iron supplements can produce a significant reduction in symptoms.
In addition to the restless legs syndrome, low serum ferritin levels have been found in psychiatric patients experiencing a condition called "akathisia", coming from the Greek word meaning "can't sit down". Akathisia is a drug-induced state of agitation. The most common drugs producing akathisia are antidepressant drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil. |
Earl Mindell and Hester Mundis
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 Anyone with sickle-cell anemia, hemochromatosis, or thalassemia should not take iron supplements, eat large amounts of iron-rich foods, or eat food cooked in cast-iron pots. Large amounts of caffeine from coffee, colas, or chocolate can inhibit iron absorption and also create an inositol shortage in the body.
Anyone with kidney malfunction should not eat large quantities of magnesium-rich foods. Over 3,000 mg daily can be dangerous. (Keep in mind that just 2 cups of roasted almonds supply more than 700 mg. |
Gary Null
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 One sad possibility is that your baby could be born anemic, which was just what you were trying to prevent by taking iron supplements.50
IRON AFTER BLOOD LOSS AND DURING MUSCULAR GROWTH
Another situation in which your need for iron might truly be increased is if you have suffered a blood loss through accident, excessive donation of blood, or heavy menstrual flow. In these circumstances a substantial number of blood cells have been lost and iron is absolutely necessary to rebuild the supplies. |
| Thus, one should avoid taking iron supplements for an anemia that is not caused by iron deficiency, because excessive iron in the system can be very dangerous.
The other reason to avoid treating an anemic condition with iron unless it is definitely a result of iron deficiency is that iron therapy treatment could complicate an anemia that was actually caused by another factor.
For example, an anemia characterized by gross abnormalities in the bone marrow—interfering with the proper synthesis of red blood cells—can arise from a vitamin E deficiency. |
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