Beetroot
★★★★★
However, about 2 weeks ago I started putting a cup of beet kvass in her smoothies and on her most recent visit to the doctor, her anemia improved quite a bit. She still has it, but it's gotten way better. She also takes the iron supplement still, but that alone wasn't doing it. I'm certain it's the beet kvass that has improved her red blood cell count.
(Washington USA)
03/29/2024
Try heme iron or Seeking Health's chewable iron.
Beetroot
Some years ago, my young grandson was diagnosed with ANEMIA.
Doctors advised on giving him iron tablets.
I took to the internet and did a whole lot of research on the matter.
The advice was simple, beetroot (Latin Name Beta vulgaris) or beet as some know it, has a very high content of iron.
I have no medical qualifications and am not advising that anyone should rush out and purchase beetroot.
However I have never ever heard of anyone developing any problems from eating this root vegetable.
One can also purchase the beetroot crystals from chemists worldwide, but I would just keep it simple and grate some fresh beetroot and add it to your salad.
My grandson is over his problem and just loves beetroot now.
Thank you all and best wishes from Ayutthaya Thailand.
John Moore.
(Fairview, Oklahoma, Usa)
02/05/2011
★★★★★
Yeah! Molasses, molasses, molasses. I have a digestive problem with BSM; have celiac disease and the malt seems to be a real problem. I am also anemic. I have found spinach, peaches, beetroot, cinnamon and chickory all to be helpful. Of course, energy begats energy and exercise (moderate when tired) is great for an energy boost.
(Wellington, New Zealand)
06/21/2011
Beetroot is one of the vegetables high in oxalates which impairs non-heme iron absorption. Other foods also high in oxalates include spinach, kale, nuts, chocolate, tea, rhubarb, strawberries and herbs such as oregano, basil and parsey. This will suprise many as it goes against the popular perception of these items.
(USA)
06/28/2023
YES! I am critical low iron anemic and read all about beets beets beets. I bought a bunch as well as beet juice powder. Then found out about oxalates! And phytic acid and polyphenols all iron inhibitors in many foods...omg....it's enough to make you just starve yourself to death..so in essence is eating beets totally counteracting low iron because of the oxalates?
(Alabama)
06/29/2023
You should increase your vitamin c intake as this increases iron absorption.
(Humphrey, Nebraska)
09/27/2011
Iron Inhibitors in Your Iron Rich Vegetables:
One problem with a list of food based solely on the content of a metal is that some foods themselves contain substances that inhibit iron absorption. Spinach is high in oxalic acid which can be cooked off in boiled spinach (discard the water) or in steamed spinach. A wilted spinach salad may be in order if the steam water is allowed to run off. The immature soy beans contain phytic acid which inhibit your iron absorption as well.
(somewhere, europe bh)
06/29/2023
Renee, I dunno about beets, but when I was critically low in iron, Blackstrap Molasses worked. Read up on it.
Beets, Dietary Changes
★★★★★
Beets, clams, liver and steak are the best for anemia. I tried the liver the first time the beef liver wasn't bad and it quickly helped me. Good vegetable sources are fennel(amazing for anemia, leeks, artichoke, mangoes(very good), pears and apricots. Oatmeal is a good source too. I hear spinach is good, but then I hear some things about it reducing iron.
I now am finally better, no more headaches, no more scary chest and leg pains, and I can now workout without feeling like I'm going to pass out after a few minutes. It will take time to get the levels back up but it is worth it. I started to feel better within a week. I usually know when my iron is low cause I start to crave these foods the clams, steak, liver, etc. so listen to your body it will let you know. Rubbing lemongrass oil on the soles of the feet and wrists is also helpful for anemia it is energizing. The tea is good for anemia too. Be careful with too much garlic it can cause anemia to worsen.
(Somewhere, Europe)
03/01/2017
LLH, for me Blackstrap Molasses got the iron and ferritin up to par.
Blackstrap Molasses
★★★★★
I take a tsp. of BSM everyday and love it, my mom passed away last year at the age of 89, sometimes when she was in her 70s her Doctor would say her iron was low, after three months went by and each time going back to get tested, I told my sister to try Black Strap Molasses, until her next visit to a specialist the doctor wanted her to see, well each day I told my sister who lived with our mom, to give her 1 tsp. a day until the visit, that day came week and a half later, the lady doctor came out and said from moms doctor report of iron level 6 it was up to almost 10 and my sister told her what I suggested taking the BSM, and so the lady Doctor said well it sure was a good thing so keep it up. I sure am glad the natural worked for our mom, It truly was an answer to Prayer....
(Pretoria, Sa)
12/18/2017
I was wondering why no one has mentioned Spirulina and vit B12 for anaemia? Has anyone had experience using these?
Blackstrap Molasses
★★★★★
(Covington, Louisiana)
01/13/2016
I have recently discovered that I have severe anemia. I have extreme bouts of fatigue and exhaustion as well as brittle fingernails that will not grow. How much blackstrap molasses should I be taking each day?
(Somewhere, Europe)
01/14/2016
Mauri, start small - about a teaspoon, twice a day. You will probably see immense improvements when you build up to a tablespoon twice a day. Later, you can back down to a tablespoon once a day and later yet, a tablespoon once in a few days.
The first thing you might notice, is more energy!!
(Tennessee)
01/14/2016
Liquid Chlorophyll is also a help in building up the blood. Midwives often have mothers take it if they bleed too much after birth. Even a Tablespoon several times a day. (It will turn the stool dark, though.)
~Mama to Many~
(Fort Worth, Texas)
04/06/2016
★★★★★
Take 1 tbsp. molasses, half fresh squeezed lemon, and 1 cup water mix well and drink.
During the day eat beets or drink beet juice and don't forget your selenium, vitamin C and folate acid. Post in 1 month with the good news.
Herb The Herbalist
(Pensacola)
07/20/2023
My daughter is anemic, enough for her pediatrician to mention it. I'm gonna try these with her and in a month I'm gonna come back and let you know what changed.
(New York City)
06/26/2016
Dear Herb: I am trying to find the best beet root powder - can you recommend any? If you buy the juice they are pretty expensive..around $5 a bottle. Thanks
Blackstrap Molasses
★★★★★
When working in the hospital as the case manager for patients who would refuse blood transfusions (the majority of my patients were not for religous reasons, rather for health concerns) there would be some who the blood building drug EPO would not work.
According to the manufacturer guidelines, the TIBC (total iron binding capicity) study needed to be used and not the traditioinal iron stores that the docs typically asked for. When the EPO did not work, the TIBC was always low. On getting a doctors order and approval from the pharmacy, we gave one table spoon of BSM mixed with peanut butter three times a day.
We saw 3 grams per dl increase in RBC (red blood cell) counts in as little as 24 hours. It was not that the body was making blood miraculously as it takes 2 weeks for a stem cell (red blood cell wanna-be's) to mature, rather the theory was that the signaling that the blood would be available soon caused a release of shunted blood.
This happened in patients with hemaglobin blood counts as low as 2.9 (the lowest I case managed). Counts continued to rise for the next few days until they were at safe levels. Most were cancer patients. Research shows that avoiding blood transfusions decreases the risk of metastatic cancer. BSM makes this possible. None of my BSM doped patients returned with metastatic cancer. In time we discovered that EPO was not needed when there was no arthritis. The BSM worked on its own.
In over 600 patients I cared for, not only did none die, they often got out of the hospital faster (1/2 to 3 days) and cheaper than those who got blood. The oldest, a 79 year old woman, got out three days faster than a 35 year old who got blood, both with broken hips. More importantly, The BSM doped patients had lower morbidity (getting sick) and lower mortality (dying) rates that those who got blood.
It should be noted, the only way to get this care is to go to a hospital that specializes in advance transfusion practice or bloodless medicine care.
Now as a holistic nurse, this is one of the treatments of choice for many of my patients who have Risk for 'Altered Nutrition: Less than body requirement to maintain normal red blood cell count (this is a nursing diagnosis for someone who has a medical diagnosis of the various types of anmeia).'
For those with arthritis, I decrease the BSM to a teaspoon once a day and add one raw red beet to their weekly diet.
(Parkville, Mo)
03/16/2016
Nurse Jon, Your review on BSM Was so informative. As a person who suffers from long term anemia I would love to know of a brand of BSM THAT YOU WOULD SUGGEST. Thank you for your words. It left me feeling like there is hope.
(London)
03/19/2016
(California, Missouri)
12/11/2017
(Somewhere, Europe)
12/12/2017
Myra, BSM is the only thing that got my iron and ferritin up to normal.
(London)
03/04/2018
Nurse Jon, which brand(s) of BSM did you use? Thank you
(New Orleans)
07/31/2020
My husband has aplastic anemia and I'm wondering if the blackstrap molasses would help him? His body is killing his hemoglobin before it reaches maturity. So we're looking for a natural treatment that will help keep his red blood cells for their full life span. He has had many transfusions and many treatments of Prednisone which is working less and less and for a shorter period of time. We're desperate. Please let me know if you have any ideas.
(Okanagan)
07/31/2020
Hi Susannah -
Dr. Josh Axe mentioned blackstrap molasses (1 teaspoon per day) among other things in his article about anemia - "5 Natural Treatments for Anemia Symptoms":
https://draxe.com/health/anemia-symptoms/
He does mention the various types of anemia that affects people (including aplastic anemia). His recommendations are based on diet, B12, Vitamin C, folate [not folic acid], ginseng, probiotics, etc.
He also added how important a healthy spleen is when dealing with anemia.
I hope you and your husband find something that helps soon.
Take care.
(New Orleans)
08/01/2020
I will check that out. My husband doesn't have a spleen..... I am hoping the nurse will respond to this.
(Canada)
07/16/2022
This excellent account gave me an idea for a delicious blood-building recipe using the mentioned ingredients: blackstrap molasses and peanut butter sandwich on lightly toasted gluten-free bread. Thank you!
Blackstrap Molasses
★★★★★
Blackstrap Molasses
(Somewhere, Europe)
11/03/2011
I took it during pregnancy with no problem. On the contrary, I had much more energy.
Blackstrap Molasses
★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
Blackstrap Molasses
★★★★★
(Wellington, New Zealand)
08/11/2011
Reply to Lee, BSM is a much better solution for anemia. Iron compounds to correct anemia need to be under stringent medical control. As early as 1928 they were found to destroy Vitamin E. Later studies showed that taking ferrous sulfate and other iron compounds tremendously increase the need for oxygen, pantothenic acid and several nutrients, that they harm the unsaturated fatty acids, and destroy carotene and vitamins A, C and E. When protein intake is low, iron compounds can cause liver damage.
Where iron deficiency occurs one must look first to the diet, heavy reliance on processed foods can be a cause, lack of B6, B12 & E also, if no problems there then some other things need to be considered. Loss of blood through internal bleeding (as per stomach ulcer) heavy menstrual flow for women and young girls. Increased ferritin levels indicating that the body is storing iron to make it unavailable for pathogens or parasites (also cancer). Blood tests for anemia should in my opinion also include the test for ferritin. I understand the current upper ferritin level in U. S. is 20 though lately some experts claim 0-10 is preferred.
It is hard to have a normal diet low in iron, so anemia should always be investigated and not simply "treated" with iron pills.
(Hawaii)
11/20/2022
I spent 20 years in Sweden, and the Swedish solution is definitely not ferrous sulphate, etc. for anemia. Thanks for this insight from far away New Zealand. Instead, the Swedish method is to substitute various iron salts for what they call "blood pudding." Blood pudding is a common Swedish dish from centuries past. You can buy it ready made in any supermarket in Sweden. It is made by dipping bread in cow blood and lightly frying it. Add lingon berries to it and serve. It tastes like liver with berries on top. Cheers from the other end of the Pacific Ocean.
(Show Low, Az)
12/27/2013
I have been dealing with anemia for 5 years now and each time I have my blood tested the levels drop. I am down to a 4 (norm being 15-35) I am tired and cold all the time and not sure what to do. I also bruise very easily. I tried the pills the doctor gave me but just ended up having to take three other pills/liquid to counter act the side effects of the iron pills. My boyfriend talked to our local health store owner and she suggested Floradix. Has anyone else used this supplement? She did tell him that I should not eat Dairy close to taking the supplement as it could inhibit the iron binding. Any help would be appreciated... Feeling very low.
(Essex Uk)
03/21/2016
The symptoms you describe tell me it may be underactive thyroid that is the problem.
(Tennessee, Usa)
12/27/2013
Dear Louise,
I am so sorry about the anemia. That is exhausting!
I have taken Floradix. My home birth midwives would recommend it in pregnancy. It is very effective, but it is expensive. However, it was much more gentle on the system than iron supplements. I think it works better, too.
In subsequent pregnancies, I have kept pregnancy induced anemia at bay with just Blackstrap Molasses. It is much cheaper than Floradix and may even be better. You can take 1 Tablespoon twice a day. The drawback is that many don't like the taste. You can look on Earth Clinic's Blackstrap Molasses page for ideas on how to take it. My children take it off the spoon. It must be Blackstrap, though.
Alfalfa is also good for anemia. You can buy tablets to take. 6 per day.
Cayenne pepper is also very good for your blood and may help with the bleeding/bruising. Some have concern that it thins the blood, but I think it has a normalizing effect. If it seems to be affecting you adversely, discontinue. I have just had a lot of success with cayenne helping with bleeding issues. It is also excellent to help you feel warmer and give a little extra energy. Start with 1/8t. in a couple ounces of grape juice, 3 x a day. In a week, try 1/4t. in 3-4 ounces of grape juice 3 times a day.
Do you know the root of this problem? Do you have heavy periods? Internal bleeding? Do you know what your platelet count is?
Please keep us posted.
~Mama to Many~
(Denver, Colorado)
12/27/2013
Louise: Mama always gives excellent remedies. You might also try raw grassfed liver. You can get this at the natural grocery store. You can grind 30g up in the blender with some water. Take 5000iu d3 each time so the a to d ratios are proper.
(Nyc)
06/26/2016
Yes, being hypothyroid can be a problem for weakness, etc. But, don't know if it also relates to iron defficiency as I've had for a long time. Will definitely start on the BSM.. And also add beet root juice. EarthClinic - we love youuuu so much - thank god for those who invented the internet and thus after all these years allowing everyone to have the ability to educate themselves on healing...staing away from doctors who are a horrible JOKE...and not so funny when they couldn't diagnose a runny nose if their lives depended on it. Sorry....I have reason to despise the medical profession in this country. Be well and stay with Mother Nature.
I was hospitalized in Jan. 2018. I had HG at 2.06. The transfusions didn't help because I have a very rare antibody that is in only 10% of the pop. worldwide. The only facility was USF Hospitals Blood bank in SF was willing to make make my rare blood. I was in the Hospital 12 days and released when my HG was at 7%. I recovered and had no reoccurring problems until April of 2023. I was admitted to Shasta Hospital whom had previously agreed to accept my transfer from the Hospital in Trinity County. Prior to going to the ER I had thought I was suffering Vomiting of all ingested liquids, and foods, had diarrhea, incontinence, headaches, dizziness, brain fog, and I had lost 43#.
After treatment and going home, I did slot of research on my B12 anemia. I had suffered such at birth and received B12 shots daily for two weeks.
I never suffered anemia during any of my five pregnancies, nor a t any other time in my life. At age 57 my hubby and I were run over by a van going 45 mph while in a crosswalk. I suffered 18 fractures, 3 in my skull and was in a med coma for a week. Upon returning home, I became dizzy while laying bed. I had the spins like I was completely intoxicated. No one did squat concerning my complaints. I began drinking Match a beetroot, fresh fruit, organic juices, and MSM smoothies daily. I also put a tablespoon of BSM in my coffee every cup. I became symptomless. This was in 2016. In 2018 we lost our mobile home and lived in our Ford Ranger in our home County. This is when I became almost bloodless the first time.
We now live in a Fifth Wheel in far N CA. I did much research of the diagnoses of B12 Anemia. I also have a Hiatal Hernia which the iffy medical care in our area refused to treat and stop the Chronic heart burn caused by such. I wads placed on antacid pills. Which cause your body to not have the ability to use B12 to convert to red blood cells. I keep having issues, so I will definitely start BSM again with my green super food, beet root powder B12 3 times a day 4,000 Mcg,, D-3, Brewers yeast powder, and MSM and will let you you all know how my body is recovering. I also do mineral Sups., C-Ester, Lots of Plain fat organic yogurt. Thanks for reminding me of the BSM I forgot all about this time.
Blackstrap Molasses
★☆☆☆☆
(White River Jct, Vermont)
03/12/2013
You can buy or make your own 'pills' of Cayenne Pepper. Cayenne pepper slows down bleeding( has a blancing effect in the body and can stop a heart attack), put it in a search engine, it's truly an amazing spice. I use it for heavy bleeding, to bring it down to a more 'normal' amount. It truly works.
Blackstrap Molasses
★★★★★
(South Carolina, Usa)
09/13/2016
Caroleco1 - I have heard people say that BSM should not be taken with milk because milk contains calcium which blocks iron absorbtion, this being so, because you also need magnesium to absorb the iron.
Two tablespoons of blackstrap contains 11.7 percent of our RDI of calcium and 7.3 percent of our RDI of magnesium. This calcium-magnesium ratio is ideal, since our bodies need large quantities of magnesium to help absorb similarly large quantities of calcium.
My g-grandmother used to give BSM to me when I was just a child. I didn't know how good it was for me until many years later.
(Warner Robins GA)
09/28/2024
★★★★★
Smoothie Recipe:
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 16 ounces milk
- Agave or dates to taste
- Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
Blackstrap Molasses
★☆☆☆☆
Blackstrap Molasses
★★★★★
Blackstrap Molasses
★★★☆☆
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I took the black strap molasses for pain in the ankle and leg due to the low iron, I do not think this helped with this but also take some tumeric power which undoubtably has helped and the symptoms are gone.
But I have noticed an increased in fine body hair on the arms and legs... what is this caused from? I also take a bit of cumin each day.
Look forward to your comments. Also should I lower the dose of the iron supplement or the molasses?
(Nashville)
04/11/2018
Increase in hair may mean you have better circulation.
