What Foods Can Help Anemia During Pregnancy?

What Foods Can Help Anemia During Pregnancy?

Anemia and Low Iron During Pregnancy

Anemia and/or low iron are both common during pregnancy. However, low iron and anemia can make you feel downright lousy. Tiredness, dizziness, headaches, and other symptoms can occur when you have low iron during pregnancy. Sometimes a doctor will recommend an iron supplement for pregnant women to help keep their iron levels up, but for the most part, you can get the same or even better results by eating foods that are rich in iron. Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here

Leafy Greens

All leafy greens are great for improving your iron levels. Keep in mind that the darker the green, the healthier the veggie, and the greater benefit you will get from it. Some of the best options? Spinach, kale, and collard greens.

Eggs

Eggs are also great sources of iron. The yolks are the best part too! Try combining a leafy green like spinach into an omelet for a double shot of iron-y goodness!

Bran

Another great breakfast option when you want to give your iron levels a boost are bran flakes. This breakfast staple is a great choice for giving your day a boost and boosting your iron levels at the same time.

Meat

Here’s one you can probably fit in at least once per day! Meat is a great source of iron, especially red meat. Try to fit it in your diet as much as possible for the best results! Your body might be craving a juicy steak, cluing you in that your body needs some iron.

Fruit

Dried fruit, like figs, apricots, or raisins, are a great source of iron, but there are other fruits that are great sources as well. Make sure to drink lots of orange juice as well, since vitamin C helps your body to better absorb iron.

Beans

Beans can be a great source of iron, and there are so many different types, you can do a lot with them. Soybeans, kidney beans, black beans, lentils, any of them are good for iron levels!

Veggies

There are several other veggies that are great sources of iron including potatoes, broccoli, beets, and brussel sprouts. Try to implement these foods into your diet as often as possible for the best chance of increasing your iron levels.

More Tips For Iron Health

There are also a few other helpful hints that can make your iron levels stay up. Cooking your food in a cast iron skillet can safely transfer some of the iron from the skillet to your body. Also, avoid drinking coffee or tea while you are eating, even if it is decaf.

This is because the tannis that is in the tea can stop the iron from absorbing into your body. Also try not to mix calcium rich foods with iron rich foods, since the calcium can cancel out the iron and cause it not to be absorbed by the body.

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Dr. Christine Lee, MD
Dr. Christine Lee, MD | ConceiveEasy
Dr. Christine Lee earned her Ph.D. in Developmental Biology and Master of Science in Biomolecular Organization. Dr. Lee is Lab Director for ConceiveEasy and is board certified as a High Complexity Laboratory Director (HCLD).

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