If you’re experiencing constant fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness or headaches you may have iron deficiency anemia. Anemia is a condition when the body doesn’t have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen back into the body caused by low levels of iron. One of the ways to treat anemia would be an Injectafer treatment along with avoiding certain foods. Keep reading to see what foods you should avoid if you suffer from anemia:

1. Foods with tannins

It’s important to eat foods rich in iron when dealing with anemia and certain foods can stop iron absorption in the body. You will want to try your best to avoid any foods with tannin, usually found in certain plant-based foods like grapes, wine, and teas. You’ll want to avoid drinking black, green or rooibos tea if you are low in iron.

2. Coffee

You’ll also want to avoid drinking coffee. Be sure to lower your caffeine intake when healing from anemia. Caffeine can block your body’s natural ability to absorb iron. When switching to caffeine-free products you’ll want to learn about avoiding calcium-rich foods as well.

3. Avoid calcium-rich foods

As you adjust to letting go of your morning caffeine intake, it’s not just enough to switch to decaf coffee and tea, but also avoiding the milk and heavy creams you are used to. When you are dealing with iron deficiency it’s really important to stop consuming foods rich in calcium which can include cheese, milk, and yogurt. If you continue to have lots of coffee with lots of cream or dairy products this combination may greatly prevent your body from absorbing the proper amount of iron.

4. Avoiding gluten

It’s usually people with celiac disease who need to avoid gluten, and if you don’t have celiac disease then gluten is usually very safe to eat. However, when the body is low in iron it’s best to avoid foods with gluten because it can be rough on the walls of the intestines of the body. Because gluten can be tough for your intestinal walls it’s best to avoid it because your ability to absorb iron may be greatly reduced. The foods with gluten you should avoid are bread, and other foods with grains like oats, rye, wheat, and barley. You’ll also want to avoid foods with phytic acid.

5. Phytic acid

Foods with phytic acid or phytates tend to bind with iron in the body preventing it from being absorbed into the body. The foods with phytic acid you’ll want to avoid are brown rice (white rice is fine), legumes, yams, nuts, and whole-grain wheat.

6. Vegetables with oxalic-acid

Foods with oxalic-acid not only block calcium absorption but iron absorption too. Oxalic-acid is naturally found in foods like peanuts, rhubarb, pecans, green beets, and even chocolate.

7. Alcohol

It’s not only your caffeine you’ll have to let go but also alcohol consumption. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can stop folate absorption which can be unfortunate if you are diagnosed with folate related anemia.

8. Foods to eat

You can eat foods rich in zinc so that folate can be properly absorbed into the body. The types of foods you might consider adding include liver, eggs, meat, and oysters. It’s also best to start adding foods rich in iron, like leafy greens.