I’ve been struggling with the symptoms of iron deficiency for a while. I’ve been reluctant to supplement, since iron pills commonly cause digestive distress, among other issues. But then I happened upon an ingenuous little invention called the Lucky Iron Fish.
The Lucky Iron Fish is essentially a small piece of iron (an iron ingot) shaped like a fish. You throw it in a pot of boiling water (with a tiny bit of acid, like lemon juice) or toss it into a liquid dish like soup or curry as it cooks. In the process, the fish releases absorbable iron (6-8 mg per 1 L of liquid) and, when used regularly, it helps to boost your levels of circulating and stored iron. (Don’t worry – if you use the fish as directed, it doesn’t change the taste of your food or drink.)
Unlike many iron supplements, the Lucky Iron Fish doesn’t come with unpleasant side effects and is safe for almost everyone. As a bonus, it’s supposed to survive five years of daily use. The company also does a lot of good work in developing countries in their pursuit of alleviating anemia on a global scale.
My fish just arrived in the mail a few days ago, and since then I’ve been happily sipping on iron-infused hot water with lemon.
This probably sounds like an infomercial, but I’m not paid by the company in any way! Just thought I’d pass on my discovery in case anyone who reads this blog might benefit (or knows someone who might benefit) from it.
Some additional tips:
- Iron absorption is helped by vitamin C and hindered by calcium. So try eating an orange or some bell peppers (both high in vitamin C) with your iron, and try to avoid taking a calcium supplement or drinking a glass of milk at the same time as you’re using your iron fish.
- A home remedy for increasing iron is blackstrap molasses: 1 tablespoon/day. Just make sure it’s unsulphured (and preferably organic). Blackstrap molasses has a very potent flavor, but I’ve taken to dissolving it in a mug of hot water with lemon and I rather enjoy the taste that way.
- Heme iron (found primarily in animal products) is better absorbed than non-heme iron (found in plant sources). I was a vegetarian and then a vegan for many years for ethical reasons, and I still wish I didn’t have to eat meat, but it seems that including a little red meat in my diet improves my health. This is a highly personal (and sometimes emotional) decision, and there’s not necessarily a one-size-fits-all prescription. I believe the Impossible Burger actually contains a genetically engineered plant-based source of heme iron, so maybe that’s an option to consider if you’d like to abstain from animal products?
- If you’re very iron-deficient, you may need to supplement at least temporarily to boost your iron stores to a healthy level. Consult with your medical provider before making any changes to your regimen, of course, but two sorts of iron that seem to be well-tolerated and gentler on the stomach are iron chelate (like this brand) and liquid Floradix.