What’s changed in your life since you found out you had hemochromatosis? For me, some of the most surprising changes came from a new perspective of the beach, the ocean, and seafood. And it’s all because of a crazy flesh-eating bacteria. If you’re a beachgoer or a seafood lover, you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared for this deadly threat.
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What’s good advice for eating ginger when you have iron overload? What’s the best way to cook with ginger in an iron-fighting kitchen? What makes ginger a potential future therapy for hemochromatosis? Dive into all things ginger with me here!
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How much do you know about the relationship between hemochromatosis and toxic metal accumulation? People with hemochromatosis not only absorb more iron than the average person, they can also absorb more heavy metals, including lead and cadmium. It’s time to consider your heavy metal exposure. This may be especially true if you notice that you’re still feeling “sick” despite your well-managed iron overload.
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Animals, like people, need just the right amount of iron, with each species having different iron requirements and iron metabolisms. From horses to bats and every living thing in between; all critters and creatures can develop both iron deficiency and iron overload when daily sustenance isn’t in balance. So if you’re wondering who your animal counterparts are, here’s a compilation of animals that are far more similar to you than you may have thought.
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Stay sane by focusing on what you CAN eat instead of what you can’t. With each meal, “supercharge” the meal’s iron fighting capabilities by incorporating more ingredients and cooking techniques that block iron absorption, so you can worry less about what you should be “cutting out.” One of my favorite ways to do this is with rosemary infused olive oil. Olive oils infused with herbs have a higher polyphenol concentration than plain olive oil, making infusions like this a necessary staple in the iron-fighting kitchen. Not only that, this rosemary infusion is a tasty upgrade to enhance the flavor of foods. I like to drizzle rosemary infused olive oil onto salads, roasted veggies, sautéed mushrooms, toasted bread, and even popcorn!
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Are you exhausted from searching for recipes that “work” for hemochromatosis? In your attempt to lower your iron levels, you may be scanning food labels and googling ingredients online – it’s easy to start thinking you should “avoid” pretty much everything, leaving you wondering how on earth you’re going to keep this up for years to come. Thankfully, there are solutions – simple tricks help to minimize your intake of iron. Here are nine straightforward, easy-to-understand mealtime tips for anyone with iron overload.
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What are the best (and worst) sweeteners and sugar substitutes for hemochromatosis? Let’s be real – no sweetener is perfect. There are consequences to using any and all sweeteners and sugar substitutes. But…we’re only human! It’s inevitable that we’re going to want something every now and then to satisfy our sweet cravings. By cutting out the worst sweeteners and replacing them with better alternatives, we’re taking a step towards better health. It’s time to clean out your pantry, and re-stock it with these healthier options.
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After probing the internet for articles, books, scientific research, opinions, guidelines, tools, and basically anything that’s got the word “hemochromatosis” in it, I’ve rounded up the ones that I found most helpful. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or a seasoned pro in the world of hemochromatosis, I hope this content can assist you!
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If you’re anything like me, you work hard to educate yourself on hemochromatosis and to “stay on top of it”- you get routine phlebotomies and you regularly test your iron levels. Even with treatment and awareness, controlling your iron levels can feel confusing. When I started learning about hemochromatosis, I stumbled across some info that caught me off guard. I discovered four activities I took part in all the time – potentially unhealthy activities for someone with hemochromatosis that I hadn’t been paying attention to when I should have. Here are four activities you should watch out for when you have hereditary hemochromatosis – they might surprise you.
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Among the not so pretty symptoms of hemochromatosis and iron overload, there are a few that are particularly uncomfortable. And unfortunately, they can last a while after your diagnosis and the start of your treatment. One of these symptoms is hair loss, and it can feel embarrassing. That’s why I’ve put together all the info I could find to benefit anyone who’s lost hair to hemochromatosis and is struggling to grow it back.
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