Iron levels if one doesn't eat meat?

I just finished donating blood and I have consistantly had low but sufficent iron levels to donate. I don't eat red meat or chicken. I eat fish maybe once every two weeks. I'm not really that fond of dark leafy iron rich veggies. I do drink a coke today - is it really possible that some of the iron that I have originates from alumninum? Someone at work mentioned that if you cook in iron pots you will get some iron from that.

You do not have to eat meat to get enough iron. The standard is about 18 mg per day for adult women.

Aluminum is probably not too good for you. In some research it has been linked to brain disorders. I wouldn't worry about it though. Just don't go out of your way to get aluminum.

Any animal muscle meat is good for iron. but...

Fresh fruit, melon, strawberries, kiwi and dried fruit are good.
All beans and lentils.
Broccoli and your not too favorite greens.
Soy.
Whole baked potatoes and the skin.
Tomatoes and peppers.
Beets.

Yes, cast iron skillets and pots will give you dietary iron.

Sounds like a whole wheat pasta with soy protein in marinara sauce with peppers and onions. with a side of asparagas. and beets and green onion salad with balsamic vinegarette would do the trick.

:-)

aluminum is not iron, you cannot get any iron from aluminum, you can indeed get iron in your food from cooking in cast iron pots.(tho not much) And soy products are a good source of iron as well as protien.

I have heard that to but Im not at all sure it 100% works or not. Try it but if it doesnt then I would ask a doctor. GOOD LUCK!!

First of all, alumni mum is a whole different metal from iron, so how can he/she expect to get iron from alumni mun?
You can get iron from "iron" fortified cereals, raisins, iron supplements. I don't know what coke would have to do with iron, but I do know it's not good for you, switch to fruit drinks.

good luck, lady. From the pots u can get some.

the easiest way to boost your iron(aside from supplements) is to eat hot breakfast cereal(grits, cream of wheat, oatmeal) they have alot of iron added.

One food item that has been used for years is something many don't like to eat... but if prepared properly, is delicious.. LIVER.. if you don't like to eat veggies, perhaps you need to get some supplements.. not to forget, iron has to combine with protein in the blood.. if you don't have sufficient protein, you will not have anything for the iron to attach to.