Increase Iron Absorption
Iron deficiency anemia can also be due to malabsorption, which occurs when the body does not absorb iron from meals. It can also be the case with vegetarian patients since iron from meat is more absorbed in the body than non-heme iron. This is why vegetarians need 1.8 times as much iron than on DV. This equates to 14 mg per day for males and postmenopausal women, 32 mg for women who are in menstruation, and 49 mg per day for pregnant women. However, several methods may be used to improve iron absorption in the body.
Combining vitamin C-rich meals with those high in non-heme iron may improve iron absorption. Moreover, cast-iron foods contain more iron than those cooked in non-iron pots and pans. Iron absorption may be improved by eating plant foods high in the amino acid lysine, such as legumes and quinoa, together with iron-rich diets.
Lysine is a necessary amino acid for constructing proteins in the body. Because humans lack the cellular structure to synthesize it, lysine must be obtained from food alone. Research indicates that L-lysine facilitates more efficient iron uptake. It can be taken orally at 500 mg twice daily to increase iron absorption.
