a little off topic--don't we need iron?

[Guest guest]

This morning I was listening to an infomercial but it was on radio; sort of

an interview thing between a writer of books about vitamins and a host. The

writer claims there's a new multivitamin called Purity Perfect Multi Super

Greens which has the same quality as eating 15 servings of fruits and

vegetables. Of course it sounds too good to be true and I know it's

super-expensive. But he said something that really disturbed me: he says

as we get older we don't need iron in our vitamins because iron is basically

rust and only the very young need it to build their red blood cells. Well

last year I was told I was slightly anemic and I take an iron supplement 3

times a week, and apparently it's important enough for the medical

profession to be concerned. So these vitamins contain no iron. Wouldn't

something happen to us healthwise if we had no iron? I know we get it in

foods but is this true that taking a supplement is just putting more " rust "

in you? And has anyone tried these vitamins and do they make you feel as

super-great as he says they do?

Joanne

[Guest guest]

You know, I'm always skeptical about these " miracle pills. " Most use

research based on people eating fresh fruit and vegetables, not those

processed and put into pills. The best source of any nutrition will be from

food, which is why Dr. Ornish preaches fresh fruits and vegetables. There

are problems with his research as well, but that really wasn't what your

post was about.

The question you ask should really be brought to your doctor, who told you

that you were anemic. It is my understanding that as long as we have blood,

we need iron. There are many ways to get iron naturally: green leafy

vegetables, etc. and for those who don't like those, then I suppose a

supplement is helpful. I went to the s Hopkins web site, who suggest the

following:

Tips to Increase Your Iron Intake

Iron is a mineral that the body needs for good health and vitality. Without

enough iron, the blood does not carry as much oxygen as the cells need. The

blood becomes iron 'poor' and iron deficiency anemia may develop. Anemia

makes you weak, tired, pale, irritable and short of breath.

Include at least four iron-rich foods per day in your meal plan. To increase

your iron intake:

Eat foods high in Vitamin C with meals. Vitamin C increases iron absorption.

Good sources are: citrus fruits and fruit juice, strawberries, cantaloupe,

mango, kiwi, cabbage, tomatoes, green pepper, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

Eat lean meats. The iron in red meat is most readily absorbed. Limit your

intake of liver, heart and kidney due to their high cholesterol content.

Use dried beans, peas or lentils. They are low in cost and provide iron and

protein.

Select high iron cereals, breads and pasta products, select those with

labels that read whole grain, enriched, fortified, or essential vitamins and

minerals added.

Recommended Daily Allowance for Iron

Men, postmenopausal women 10 mg per day

Women of childbearing years 15 mg per day

Pregnant women 30 mg per day

s Hopkins does a lot of research and isn't trying to sell anything, that

I'm aware of, other than education. So, this might be a good reference, but

your doctor should have the final say, not some group selling vitamins. I

think it is always good to question this stuff, because so many see

something like what you saw and take it as truth.

Hope this helps answer your post.

a little off topic--don't we need iron?

This morning I was listening to an infomercial but it was on radio; sort

of

an interview thing between a writer of books about vitamins and a host.

The

writer claims there's a new multivitamin called Purity Perfect Multi Super

Greens which has the same quality as eating 15 servings of fruits and

vegetables. Of course it sounds too good to be true and I know it's

super-expensive. But he said something that really disturbed me: he says

as we get older we don't need iron in our vitamins because iron is

basically

rust and only the very young need it to build their red blood cells. Well

last year I was told I was slightly anemic and I take an iron supplement 3

times a week, and apparently it's important enough for the medical

profession to be concerned. So these vitamins contain no iron. Wouldn't

something happen to us healthwise if we had no iron? I know we get it in

foods but is this true that taking a supplement is just putting more

" rust "

in you? And has anyone tried these vitamins and do they make you feel as

super-great as he says they do?

Joanne

[Guest guest]

Joanne,

I have not tried these vitamins, however, I went to a new vitamen a

while back that did not contain iron and when I went for bloodwork

later that was the only issue I had. My iron was low and they say

that is bad for women. My doctor put me on a supplment for 60 days

and advised that I go back to my normal vitamen with iron. I did

and the bloodwork I took three weeks ago was perfect (Dr's words not

mine). So there must be something to this iron thing.

Yvonne

> This morning I was listening to an infomercial but it was on

radio; sort of

> an interview thing between a writer of books about vitamins and a

host. The

> writer claims there's a new multivitamin called Purity Perfect

Multi Super

> Greens which has the same quality as eating 15 servings of fruits

and

> vegetables. Of course it sounds too good to be true and I know

it's

> super-expensive. But he said something that really disturbed me:

he says

> as we get older we don't need iron in our vitamins because iron is

basically

> rust and only the very young need it to build their red blood

cells. Well

> last year I was told I was slightly anemic and I take an iron

supplement 3

> times a week, and apparently it's important enough for the medical

> profession to be concerned. So these vitamins contain no iron.

Wouldn't

> something happen to us healthwise if we had no iron? I know we

get it in

> foods but is this true that taking a supplement is just putting

more " rust "

> in you? And has anyone tried these vitamins and do they make you

feel as

> super-great as he says they do?

>

>

>

>

>

> Joanne