Foods With Iron & B12

Foods that contain both vitamin B12 and iron build strength and endurance. These foods are also usually rich in other vitamins and minerals. People who suffer from any chronic disease can benefit from foods rich in iron and B vitamins.

Function and Benefits

• Foods rich in iron and vitamin B12 benefit those who suffer from fatigue, fibromyalgia and anemia. Iron and vitamin B12 improve red blood cell count, which helps a person regain stamina and energy. When iron is combined with vitamin B12, it can have a dramatic effect on a person's health because iron works on building the blood and vitamin B12 strengthens the nervous system.

Top Foods to Choose

• Many foods contain high levels of iron and vitamin B12. All meat products contain B vitamins and iron, but certain meats contain very high levels. For instance, liver, beef and chicken all contain generous amounts of iron and B12, in addition to other vitamins and minerals. Beans, lentils, prune juice, figs, spinach, dates, green beans, raisins and bananas are also good sources of vitamin B12 and iron. Seeds, such as sesame and pumpkin, and fish, such as salmon and halibut, are high in these two nutrients.

Considerations

• If you have a hard time digesting meat, then you may want to consider taking digestive enzymes with your meals. These enzymes can be found online or at health food stores. Digestive enzymes help break down your food so your body can use the nutrients more effectively. Drink 30 minutes before meals but not during meals. If eating meat is not an option for you, then you can choose to eat vegetarian items or include spirulina, which is a sea vegetable that contains protein, iron, B vitamins. You can purchase spirulina in capsule or powder form.

Expert Insight

• Dr. Andrew Weil, a holistic medical doctor and vitamin adviser, says to eat exotic greens like dandelions, nettles and yellow dock in addition to eating dried beans, leafy green vegetables, dried apricots, beet greens, chard and red meat. All of these foods contain iron and vitamin B12. He also recommends a supplement called Floradix, which can be found in health food stores.

Warning

• Some medications interact with iron or increase the need for iron. Drugs that tend to interact with iron are carbidopa, levofloxacin and methyldopa. Drugs that increase the need for more iron are moexipril, nabumenton and aspirin. (See the link to Prevention.com to view a complete list of medications that interact with iron.) Avoid taking iron at the same time as your other prescription drugs, and talk to your doctor before making any changes to your diet.