Do you remember the Iron Kids commercials that came about in the late nineties? Each commercial would advertise to both the parent and child using bright colors and detailed dietary information. Personally, I didn’t care for Iron Kids bread, it tasted funny. As long as my mom removed the crust I could care less if I were eating Iron Kids or Magnesium Kids bread. None the less, I gobbled it down to appease my parents and to fuel my adolescent activities. Now that I am grown and have a doctor reviewing my charts, I take my dietary deficiencies more seriously.
Living with Interstitial Cystitis does not have to diminish your iron intake. There are several foods that contain high levels of iron and are still safe for you.
“Iron is important,” the doc says to me. “Do you eat much iron, Daniel?" As he looked over my chart I’m reminded of how much I detest rhetorical questions. Who eats enough of anything? With a sense of humor I replied, “I keep a baggy of broccoli in my glove compartment and an ice jug full of vitamin C inside my fanny pack. The doctor snarled, and with his sloppy penmanship scribbled down some notes encouraging me to look into foods that are high in iron.
I learned that without enough iron you get lethargic and could potentially become anemic, making it difficult to fight off infections and illness. Consuming a healthy amount of iron helps brain function and metabolism. Iron can increase your workout intervals, resulting in more weight loss and improved energy.
Living with Interstitial Cystitis does not have to diminish your iron intake. There are several foods that contain high levels of iron and are still safe for you.
• Meats - beef, pork, lamb, liver, and other organ meats
• Poultry - chicken, duck, turkey (especially dark meat)
• Fish - shellfish, including clams, mussels, and oysters
• Leafy greens of the cabbage family, such as broccoli, kale, turnip greens, and collards
• Legumes - lima beans, dry beans, including pinto beans, and black-eyed peas
• Gluten-free whole grain bread and rolls
Enjoy this free recipe. For more Interstitial Cystitis recipes containing iron rich foods visit our recipe section.