Many times women face anemia in pregnancy. This is because, during pregnancy, the requirement for iron increases substantially. There is an increase in blood volume and dilution. This is required to facilitate the circulation in the tiny vessels of the baby.
Eating iron-rich foods and taking iron supplements is the best way to meet the increasing demands.
Low levels of iron will result in anaemia. Anaemia can lead to various complications in both the mother and the baby. Iron supplements (low dose- 30 mg) are given from the 12th week of pregnancy.
Anemia In Pregnancy: Know About Natural Sources Of Iron
There are two types of iron in foods.
Heme iron is found in beef, chicken, turkey, and pork.
Nonheme iron is found in beans, spinach, tofu, and ready-to-eat-cereals that have added iron.
The body can absorb up to 30 percent of heme iron, while it can only absorb 2-10% of non-heme iron.
Foods that contain vitamin C, help in the absorption of iron. Foods rich in vitamin C include guava, bell peppers, kiwis, oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, Brussel sprouts, and papaya.
Certain drinks (coffee, tea, milk) and foods (whole grains, and dairy products) prevent the absorption of iron.
Non-vegetarian foods that contain iron are eggs, beef, chicken lamb, pork and turkey
Vegetables rich in Iron are spinach, tomatoes, green peas, broccoli sweet potatoes and green beans.
Fruits rich in iron content are strawberries, raisins, watermelon, prunes, figs dried peaches and dried apricots
Beans/Legumes/Nuts High have rich Iron content (white beans, kidney beans, and chickpeas), Lentils, Dried peas,
Cashews Pistachios.
Bread and Cereals are also commonly fortified with iron.
Therefore check your haemoglobin status at the first antenatal visit and ensure that you consume adequate iron-rich foods and take supplements if required as advised by the doctor.
