How being a raw foodist affected my iron levels…
Posted by: admin in How Being a Raw Foodist has changed meIt was probably the second or third week when I started. I was seriously living off of my green smoothies, and I made sure I had a baby spinach one before I went in to give blood. I know I’ve read that spinach isn’t the great iron booster some would have you believe, but… I guess you hear a thing often enough and it sticks with you. Or maybe baby spinach just happened to be what I had in rotation for that morning — I rotated between at least two different kinds of greens for my smoothies. I still rotate, but I’m more conservative in my greens purchases.
Anyway, I was a bit worried about my iron levels. I had been keeping track of my nutrition intake but I hadn’t eaten meat or any animal products this entire time. Like I said, even when you know better, things people tell you stick with you.
You see, when you give blood they take a small amount of blood out of your finger to test for iron. It hurts like the dickens if you are dehydrated — so drink lots of water. When the nurse took my blood sample to test my blood iron levels I was curious to see if she’d say anything different. I’ve never had problems with my iron levels previously… I watched through the glass as she dropped my blood sample into the… spinny thing and the iron checking liquid thing. She looked, then she grabbed another nurse and pointed. And another.
It seemed like my worst fears had been realized. She was going to come in all sympathetic smiles and tell me that she’s sorry but I can’t donate today and why don’t I go home and have a big plate of liver. But she didn’t.
She came in and told me that my iron levels were extremely high, “But that’s good.” she added with a smile.
This story still amazes me. I’ve never before seen the nurse stop other nurses to point at ANYONE’S iron level before. It makes me wish I could find out what my other blood nutrient levels are (particularly comparatively).
