Reasons for anaemia: Tea & coffee, arthritis and supplements
4. Do you drink lots of tea and coffee?
Drink too much tea and coffee too often and the risk of anaemia increases. General advice is not to drink tea or coffee at mealtimes or for half an hour afterwards. This is because the polyphenols in tea and coffee reduce the amount of iron that can be absorbed from food.
The more you drink, the lower your iron stores and though this may not cause anaemia directly, there is a more serious problem if you have any of the other risk factors.
5. Have you got arthritis?
Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are widely prescribed or bought over the counter for the relief of chronic joint and muscle pain. Unfortunately, long-term use can damage the lining of the stomach causing small, but persistent blood loss. This inevitably results in anaemia.
6. Do you take supplements?
Some supplements reduce the ability to absorb and store iron. Zinc and iron can interfere with each other and large doses of zinc taken on an empty stomach can significantly reduce iron absorption, and vice versa. Calcium supplements can do the same, so make sure you take calcium and zinc at bed time, as far away from iron rich foods as possible.
Soy is another problem, as the protein and calcium it contains binds with iron from other non-meat foods. But vitamins A, B2, C and beta-carotene can all help to boost your iron levels.
By Michael van Straten
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