Iron-rich nutrition is an essential part of treatment and prevention — but alone it's insufficient for severe deficiency. There are two types of dietary iron.
Heme Iron — Best Absorbed (15-35%):
- Beef or chicken liver: Richest source — 100g liver = 6-9 mg iron.
- Red meat: Beef, lamb — 100g = 2-3 mg.
- Chicken and turkey: Thigh is richer than breast.
- Seafood: Oysters, sardines, tuna.
Non-heme Iron — Lower Absorption (2-20%):
- Legumes: Lentils, beans, chickpeas — one cup lentils = 6 mg.
- Leafy greens: Spinach, molokhia.
- Dried fruits: Dried apricots, figs, raisins.
- Fortified grains: Fortified bread, breakfast cereals.
Tips to Increase Absorption:
- Take vitamin C with iron (lemon or orange juice).
- Avoid tea and coffee with meals (reduce absorption 50%).
- Avoid milk and calcium supplements with iron tablets.
At BEIT TARIQ Center, we provide personalized nutritional advice for each patient based on anemia severity and lifestyle.