Iron is Important

Max had his yearly wellness check-up last week. We had his blood drawn for an allergy test, and found he is iron deficient. This came as a surprise, because we take daily supplements and eat a very healthy balanced diet of whole grains, fresh produce, & lean meat/poultry.

I GOT A LITTLE EDUCATION ON IRON:
1. Children's vitamins don't contain iron.
2. Milk inhibits the absorption of iron.
3. Vitamin C aids the absorption of iron.

I know my mother knows all of this, and did it all right with me. I must have missed that day in diet & nutrition class. So, now I know not to serve milk with our meals. Rather, save it for between meals. We believe the cause of Maxwell's deficiency is milk at mealtime. This is actually the most common culprit of anemia in children. I've never served much juice, because of the sugar. But, it's actually good to serve orange juice with a meal, because of the vitamin C. Just don't forget to brush your teeth!

IRON SOURCES
Good -- Tuna, oatmeal, apricots, raisins, spinach, kale, greens, prunes
Better -- Eggs, meat, fish, chicken, turkey, soybeans, dried beans, peanut butter, peas, lentils, molasses

GETTING AN IRON SUPPLEMENT
I went to CVS Pharmacy for the supplement our pediatrician recommended, and they didn't have any for children! I ordered it, and it came in the next day. Here's what was recommended: FER-GEN-SOL iron supplement drops for children under 4. We are just doubling the dosage for Max (6-yrs-old). With this treatment, his blood should be balanced in 1-3 months.

I'm grateful to have learned about how to better care for my children. It's amazing how a simple thing makes such an important difference. Iron deficiencies are a serious matter. It slows cognitive development, decreases attention span & alertness, causes slowed growth, decreased appetite, and in extreme instances heart failure in children. Basically, we need oxygen, and iron distributes the oxygen to the tissues in our bodies. Got to have it!