Dietary Treatment Guidelines

Choosing iron-rich foods can reduce the risk of iron deficiency anemia, and help to correct the problem.

Foods rich in iron include:

Red meat
Pork
Poultry
Seafood
Beans
Dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach
Dried fruit, such as raisins and apricots
Iron-fortified cereals, breads and pastas
Peas

Additionally, people can enhance the "body's absorption of iron by drinking citrus juice or eating other foods rich in vitamin C at the same time that you eat high-iron foods" (Iron).

Vitamin C is found in:

Orange juice
Broccoli
Grapefruit
Kiwi
Leafy greens
Melons
Oranges
Peppers
Strawberries
Tangerines
Tomatoes

People (usually older) on a "tea and toast" diet need to be educated about the gaps in their nutrition (Iron).

In infants, iron deficiency anemia can be avoided by feeding them either breast milk, or iron enriched formula.  Additionally, most baby cereals are iron enhanced (Iron).

However "on a worldwide basis, diet is the major cause of iron deficiency. However, to suggest that iron-deficient populations correct the problem by the addition of significant quantities of meat to their diet is unrealistic" (Harper).  In these cases, iron supplementation to existing food sources is required.


Works Cited:

Harper, J. (n.d.). Iron Deficiency Anemia. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/202333-overview#a7

Iron deficiency anemia. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2015, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iron-deficiency-anemia/basics/prevention/con-20019327