Which food item will the nurse recommend the client take with the supplements to increase iron absorption?

Iron is a nutrient needed for many functions of the body, such as making haemoglobin in red blood cells, which transports oxygen from the lungs throughout the body. While it can store iron, your body can't make it. The only way to get iron is from food.

Iron-rich foods

There are 2 types of iron in food: haem and non-haem. Haem iron, found in meat, poultry and seafood, is absorbed more effectively than non-haem iron, which is found in eggs and plant foods.

Animal-based sources of iron

Top animal-based sources of iron include:

  • red meats (beef, lamb, veal, pork, kangaroo). The redder the meat, the higher it is in iron
  • offal (liver, kidney, pate)
  • poultry
  • fish or shellfish (salmon, sardines, tuna)
  • eggs

Plant-based sources of iron

Plant foods containing non-haem iron can still provide an adequate amount of iron for the body. Good sources include:

  • nuts
  • dried fruit
  • wholemeal pasta and bread
  • iron-fortified bread and breakfast cereal
  • legumes (mixed beans, baked beans, lentils, chickpeas)
  • dark leafy green vegetables (spinach, silver beet, broccoli)
  • oats
  • tofu

How much iron do I need?

Your recommended daily intake (RDI) of iron depends on your age and sex:

  • Children aged 1-3 years — 9 milligrams (mg)
  • Children 4-8 — 10mg

  • Boys 9-13 — 8mg
  • Boys 14-18 — 11mg

  • Girls 9-13 — 8mg
  • Girls 14-18 — 15mg

  • Men aged over 19 — 8mg
  • Women aged 19-50 — 18mg
  • Women 51+ — 8mg
  • Pregnant women — 27mg
  • Women breastfeeding exclusively — 9-10mg

Women need more iron to replace the amount lost in blood during menstruation. Until menopause, women need about twice as much iron as men.

Iron deficiency occurs when the iron levels are too low, which can lead to anaemia. If you are worried you have an iron deficiency, your doctor may order some blood tests and may suggest iron supplements. You should always speak to your doctor before you take iron supplements as you could poison yourself if you take too much.

How to improve iron absorption from food

How you prepare food, and which foods you eat together, can affect how much iron your body absorbs.

For example, foods rich in vitamin C such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, berries, kiwi fruit, melons, green leafy vegetables and capsicum can help you absorb more iron if you eat them at the same time as iron-rich foods. Add them raw to your plate, drink unsweetened orange juice with your meal, or take a vitamin C supplement.

Coffee, tea and red wine (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), on the other hand, can reduce iron absorption. Calcium-rich foods, calcium supplements and some soybean-based foods can also inhibit iron absorption.

It’s better to have coffee, tea, red wine and dairy foods in between meals.

Can you have too much iron?

In healthy people, the body regulates how much iron it absorbs from food and supplements — so it’s difficult to have ‘too much’ iron in your diet.

However, some people have a genetic condition called haemochromatosis, which causes the body to absorb excess iron. The normal level of iron in the body is 3 to 4 grams, but in people with haemochromatosis it can be more than 20g.

About 1 person in every 300 has haemochromatosis, and it’s usually picked up through screening people who have a close relative with the condition.

Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about your iron levels.

Which food item will the nurse recommend the client take with the supplements to increase iron absorption?

Your Care Instructions

Iron deficiency anemia means that you don't have enough iron in your blood. You need even more iron when you are pregnant.

Without enough iron, you may feel weak and sick. Your skin may look pale. Low iron can cause problems when you give birth. And your risk for problems after you have the baby may rise. Severe anemia is rare. But if you get it, you may be more likely to have your baby early (preterm birth). Or your baby may have a low birth weight.

The food you eat may not give you as much iron as you need. Iron pills can help. Your doctor or midwife may advise you to take them.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

How can you care for yourself at home?

  • If your doctor or midwife recommends a multivitamin or iron supplement, take them as directed. Call your doctor, midwife, or nurse advice line if you think you are having a problem with your supplements.
  • If your doctor or midwife tells you to take iron pills:
    • Try to take the pills on an empty stomach about 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. But you may need to take iron with food to avoid an upset stomach.
    • Do not take antacids or drink milk or caffeine drinks (such as coffee, tea, or cola) at the same time or within 2 hours of the time that you take your iron. They can keep your body from absorbing the iron well.
    • Vitamin C (from food or supplements) helps your body absorb iron. Try taking iron pills with a glass of orange juice or some other food high in vitamin C.
    • Iron pills may cause stomach problems, such as heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and cramps. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids. And include fruits, vegetables, and fibre in your diet each day.
    • Do not stop taking iron pills without talking to your doctor or midwife first. Even after you start to feel better, it will take several months for your body to build up a store of iron. Call your doctor, midwife, or nurse advice line if you think you are having a problem with your iron pills.
    • If you miss a pill, do not take a double dose of iron.
    • Keep iron pills out of the reach of small children. An overdose of iron can be very dangerous.
  • Eat foods rich in iron. These include red meat, shellfish, poultry, eggs, beans, raisins, whole-grain bread, and leafy green vegetables.
  • Talk to your doctor or midwife about any cravings for non-food items such as dirt, ashes, clay, or chalk. These cravings can be a sign of iron deficiency anemia.

When should you call for help?

Which food item will the nurse recommend the client take with the supplements to increase iron absorption?

Call your doctor, midwife, or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:

  • You are dizzy or light-headed, or you feel like you may faint.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor, midwife, or nurse advice line if:

  • You have new fatigue, or your fatigue is worse.
  • You have problems with your medicine, such as nausea and constipation.

Where can you learn more?

Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd

Enter W621 in the search box to learn more about "Iron Deficiency Anemia During Pregnancy: Care Instructions".

What foods will you teach the patient are high in iron?

These foods include:.
All meats, such as chicken, beef, lamb, pork, and fish. Liver is especially high in iron..
Raisins, peas, beans, lentils, barley, and eggs..
Iron-fortified breakfast cereals..

Which of the following foods is the best source of iron quizlet?

The best sources of dietary iron are red meat, liver and other organ meats, blackstrap molasses, and oysters. Other good sources of iron are kidney beans, whole-wheat bread, egg yolk, spinach, kale, turnip tops, beet greens, carrots, raisins, and apricots.

Which food would the nurse recommend for a client with iron deficiency anemia?

Eat iron-rich foods such as meat, chicken, fish, eggs, dried beans and fortified grains. The form of iron in meat products, called heme, is more easily absorbed than the iron in vegetables.

Which food should the nurse recommend for a child with iron deficiency anemia?

Dark green leafy vegetables are rich in iron while oranges are a good source of vitamin C, which enhances iron absorption. Option A: Nuts and fish are rich in protein. Option B: Butter and margarine are cholesterol-rich food. Option C: Sugar and candy may not help with the client's iron deficiency anemia.