Low Iron Stores and Stout Beer

[sydney6060]

Ok, this is a weird one.

I have had very low iron stores and low B12 for ever.  I've tried almost everything to get the iron level increased.  I've had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, ciliac testing, and the list goes on.  Nothing is ever found as the cause.

Anyway, I was speaking to an aunt of mine one day (she is 83) and she said that when she was a teenager, she had low iron.  The doctor recommended that  her parents give her stout beer.  She said she only took a few tablespoons a day, and in no time her iron levels came up.

Has anyone ever heard of this.  It sounds a little wacky to me, but I'm willing to give it a go.  And as I don't mind a beer now and then, (although I've never had stout) I guess it won't hurt.  Maybe I'll get the added benefit of feeling good for a bit.  (I'm not advocating liquor for feeling good. LOL)  But I really don't want to feel any more dopey than I do now!

I quess we get to the point in our illness that we'll try anything to give us a lift, wacky or not.  Maybe I'll try it before bed and I'll get to sleep before I hear the brids chirping in the a.m.


Feel well everyone
Susan

[Linda196]

I have heard this before, and there is a bit of medical science to back it up, believe it or not!

Stout contains a higher amount of brewer's yeast than other beers and ales, and brewer's yeast is closely related to nutritional yeast, which is a source of Vitamin B12. B12 is necessary to the body for the production of red blood cells, which in turn contain the iron! Other products like Marmite or Vegemite, and nutritional yeast supplements, can also provide the same B12, but the stout might be more fun

[Epson]

My mom use to eat rains soaked in vodka for her arthritis, I don't know if it's helpful but she sure felt good.

[Pooh]

Sounds good to me, but be careful of it with the meds you are taking.  They might not take kindly to the alcohol. 

Let us know if you try it and if it works for you. 

Pooh

[sydney6060]

Thanks for the replies.  I guess it's not as crazy as I thought.  I'll go the liquor store tomorrow and get some.  I'll keep everyone informed if my iron does improve.

And I'll be careful with my meds.  I'm on Plaq, synthroid, atacand plus, norvase, pariet and effexor.  I'll just try a half a bottle at first.  I may not even like it. 

Susan

[Patze]

Oh Susan,

Yum, stout beer, if I only could! 


Patze

[Scottietottie]

When my oldest son was born my MIL told me I should drink a bottle of stout every day. It was said to be good for nursing mothers. 

[wednesday mc haggis]

guinness is fabulous for this, i know a pregnant friend of mines who got ill on iron tablts and was told by dcotor to drink 2 half pints of guiness per week and her iron went up no problem without all the consipation and sickness, it does work

T x

[Epson]

Mc Haggis

You don't expect us to believe that story do you?  There isn't a Scott alive that could restrict their self to only 2 half pints a week.
I know, I am Irish and had a hard time keeping up with the Scott's in the Pubs while on business in the U.K, don't get me wrong, I represented my country well

[Sjenny]

Scottie:

I read that somewhere too when I was having my babies, that nursing mothers should drink beer - I didn't do it because one drink puts me out like a light, making it difficult to tend to the baby.

Can any of you Aussies tell me what vegemite tastes like?  I've always been curious ever since that song featuring vegemite.

Sue

[wednesday mc haggis]

susan  if you dont like it add a dash of lime cordial to it, changes taste completely, how i drink it

T x

[Epson]

Sue,

Nursing mother should drink beer, to put the babies out for the night

[sydney6060]

I might try the lime in it.  I know that red wine is good for low iron also, but I don't like the after effects.  It gives me a terrible headache.

I'm going to mention it to my Doc, the next time I see her just to get her opinion. 

Does stout keep very well if you only drink half the bottle?

Susan

[wednesday mc haggis]

susan

it should keep in a fridge for around a week, alcohol does preserve it, epson is going to tease me now for being an alcohol expert lololol hope this helps

t x

[Jayne]

I have to say that as a long time drinker of Guinness, it doesn't always work. On a number of occasions when I used to be a blood doner my levels were too low to donate.
I wasn't anaemic for the common problem of heavy periods either as I wasn't having them because of the contraceptive pill first, and then later on Depo.
Anyway, it could work for you and you may enjoy the drink!
Cheers
Jayne