IRON SUPPLEMENTATION TIPS

A person taking iron supplements should check his/her complete hemogram by blood test. Get your blood test done to assess the hemoglobin and blood indices to know about the efficacy of the supplements. Never take iron supplements haphazardly for a month or two and discontinue them; always confirm its action and verify whether it needs to be continued further.

There is no fixed course for iron. You need to continue till your body stores are adequate in iron. A regular follow-up blood test is essential to prevent iron overload. There is no need to take extra supplemental iron unless indicated.

Continue using food sources of iron even after stopping the tablet/syrup as food sources will never cause iron overload. Common foods are beet, green veggies, dates, figs, raisins, sesame seeds, and almonds.

If you are not responding to the iron or your hemoglobin keeps dropping frequently, you need to rule out hemoglobin-related disorders.

But, but, but.......... try doing this first -

Include vitamin A (carrots, peach, papaya, mango, green vegetables), copper (whole grains, almonds, pista, figs, dates, walnuts, raisins), and VITAMIN C to improve the absorption of iron.

Our Indian dish 'aloo-palak' is a good example of a food combination to maximize the efficacy of nutrient absorption. 

Forget the technical jargon...
what I mean is that you get iron from palak and vitamin C, vitamin A, and copper from the potato, so it enhances iron absorption.

Point to note: 

Do not take your anti-acidity syrups, tablets, or capsules with iron. It will just not allow that iron to be absorbed. 
Do not drink cow or buffalo or soya milk to gulp that iron tablet, it will just not allow......
Do not take tea or coffee with iron tablets; it will just not allow......

So, get the best out of that iron tablet, so that you can discontinue it sooner.