Diet

Hello philx,  I do take some care with my diet but, you mainly have to watch heme iron containing foods that are in meat and fish.  They are the most highly absorbed. If and when I eat them, I drink milk or tea or I take calcium supplements to block their absorption.  No need to fast from anything completely. The reason we avoid shellfish is to try not to ingest the bacteria that someties accompanies raw shellfish. Bacteria love iron.  In fact my dad died after eating shellfish (I inherited HH from him).   Go ahead and eat anything you want, just remember to block it with something else.  Good luck!

Hi Philx

I have read that the recommendations are to cut down on red meats, liver, those very high in iron, fortified cereals and supplements. Of course shell fish too, especially raw. It is important to eat a healthy diet fruit and veg for fibre and nutrients as nothing would stop iron overload anyway. Drink tea with meals as the tannings reduce iron absorption. I hope this helps.

Hi Phil.

In short, you can just eat a normal balanced diet. This condition cannot be cured or totally controlled by diet. Only our blood letting does that. BUT of course, some dietary tips are helpful in that it can reduce the frequency of blood letting. Some basics....no liver, kidney, no fortified cereals...check all labelling for added iron, eg cakes, breads, biscuits etc, many have added iron in the wheat flour used. Try to reduce red meat, or cut it out...I have. I eat much more fish now. The other key tip is have plenty of calcium when you eat...eg, pint of milk with a meal. Calcium prevents iron absorption both heme and non heme iron. Also, drink loads of black/green tea with meals...the tannins help prevent iron absorption. Don't have vitamin c when eating, as vitamin C helps iron absorption. Try to eat your fruit etc in between meals.

Those are a few basic tips which might help. If you drink alcohol, don't drink with a meal, it helps iron absorption...though red wine contains tannins so may help reduce iron absorption.

Hope this helps...

Mike.

Thanks to all of you for your, replies it very interesting on people's

Views,I am seeing my GP tomorrow I will ask her for her views

But to be honest as hemochromatosis is not an every day illness

I think your view's and my own research will bear more fruit.

I will try and think of another topic in the next few days to get you talking

Cheers philx

Look for a copy of The Hemochromatosis Cookbook in your local library, or ask them to get it in for you.  Not necessarily for the recipes, but full of good info.  

I found I don't digest sugars and starches very well, and it seems to be common among us, just takes a while to work it out.  Besides sugars and starches are the cause of fatty liver which increases our ferritin level too.

I still eat red meat, just not every day.  I always have protein with each meal, and snack (though mostly I don't need snacks anymore) and plenty of green vegetables.  While I drink tea or coffee when eating, I have since read research that it does not have much efffect on reducing the uptake of iron.  But, I feel like I have to do something just in case.  Dairy (calcium) is more beneficial for reducing uptake of iron, and I have cheese or plain yoghurt (add some pure cocoa powder for a sugar free chocolate treat) for desert.  I am sticking to my small glass of red with dinner as the polyphenols are supposed to help reduce the uptake of iron - gotta believe in something!!!

And as someone else has already said, avoid vit C juices and supplements when eating.