Iron Rich Vegan Foods
Caution with certain leafy greens that are high in oxalates. A quick dip in boiling water for a few seconds will decrease the oxalates. Toss the oxalate containing water.
With PKD we can develop a shortage of iron in our blood either from red blood cells being destroyed or a decrease in erythropoiten, a hormone that stimulates new red blood cell formation. It is good to get a B12 level also necessary for iron carrying capacity of our red blood cells.
To get the most iron from food:
Eat iron-rich foods along with foods that contain vitamin C, helps the body absorb iron.
Avoid caffeine tea, coffee polyphenols, this can bind with iron making it harder to absorb.
Calcium hinders iron absorption; avoid high-calcium foods for a half hour before or after eating iron-rich foods.
Cook in iron pots. The acid in some foods seems to pull some of the iron out of the cast-iron pots.
Red grape juice is wonderful for raising the iron reserves as are apricots, broccoli (broccoli sprouts even better) and a few have tried cereal grasses such as spelt grass juice, barley grass juice and wheat grass juice (just an ounce then bite into an orange slice).
It appears leafy greens as an iron source far out weighs eating animal proteins. Check out this list of Vegan Iron Rich Foods:
Iron Rich Foods
