To new beginnings. To the pursuit of...somethingness.

DedicatedDFW

Thanks maty - quite a few months before my blood test i asked my doctor if i could have anaemia and they said i didn't have it 4 years ago so wouldn't have it now - though i thought this was something that you could get at any time? :undecided

NorthernLas

DDFW - If you give blood they always test your iron levels by dropping a sample into a solution of copper sulphate. You can attempt to give blood every 6 months (may be 4 actually), so you could pop along and get a sneak test done. OK, if you are not anaemic you will need to give them blood in exchange for oragne juice and a custard cream, but you do get a lie down

Alternatively, do you know any chemistry teachers?

DedicatedDFW

Thanks NL - a custard cream and orange juice sound great as i sadly don't know any chemist teachers.

Sorry for the thread hi-jack cherisong - hope work is going well for you today

MrsMoo2U

Hey everybody, hijack the thread as much as you like this is all very interesting. Elli - I have never heard of pernicious anaemia - off to google it. Thanks for that. I do admit that my diet has not been the best lately so I am righting that at the moment. Lots of spinach being inserted into the diet where possible and I will start to take my vitamins again. I first found out I was anaemic when I tried to give blood. For years they wouldnt take any blood because I was "underweight" I always weighed 7 stone until I was about 26. Then I started to go to the gym, put weight on and then they wouldnt take it because I was amaemic. They reckon that I was tight with my blood!!!! DDW - yes I find that anaemia comes and goes. I am mostly responsible for not looking after myself properly I think.

Recipes - DDW erm......... I have a tendency to make things up as I go along mostly although I do have some very nice veggie recipe books (my weakness is buying recipe books)
Sweep Potatoe and Chick Pea Curry (as made up by me)

Ingredients
vegetable oil (or if I am feeling decadent ghee)
onions
chick peas ( I use fresh but can use tinned)
spinach (this can be left out)
tinned tomatoes or passata
sweet potato
fresh ginger
fresh garlic
turmeric
coriander
cumin

soak chickpeas overnight and cook as per instructions
heat oil in pan
add teaspoon each of cumin, coriander and turmeric to oil and fry lightly until aroma is scrumptious (about a minute) do not allow to burn
add in chopped up garlic ginger and onions and fry off on low heat for five minutes until onions soft.
add in sweet potato and fry off then add in chick peas, tinned tomatoes and spinach.
Can be cooked in oven or on the stove. I also do it in the slow cooker.

Serve with chappatis/naan bread and rice ( I use brown rice)

I find it tastes nicer if cooked slowly and even better if eaten the day after.
Sorry no measurements as I tend to guess them. With the spices you can add more or less and change the spices to any that you prefer. I sometimes use Garamasala if that is all I have in.


I admit to a weakness for indian food and my most used recipe book is an authentic Indian cookbook. Now falling apart. Hope that was useful

niccatw

Cheri, if you haven't already, grab yourself a bag of flaxseed. (I use flaxseed with added brazil nuts for extra selenium. Us veggies tend to have a lot less selenium in our system compared to meat eaters.)

Flaxseed is great for veggie omega-3 oils, and it's easy to chuck a spoonful in to whatever you happen to be cooking anyway (cereal, sauces, salads...). When I was being much better with my eating than I currently am, I noticed I had more energy than usual, my hair was shinier and my finger nails were long enough to paint french nails .

MrsMoo2U

Thanks Nic, I had forgotten all about flaxseeds. I used to put them into my soups and salads all the time. Amazing how moving to a new place completely threw me on lots of things. I also use to take selenium tablets and yes my hair etc was much nicer. Right that is added to my list.

DedicatedDFW

Thank you soo much for the recipe cherisong :j:j:j - i used to be veggie (for years i might add ) so do enjoy lots of veggie dishes

EssexHebridean

That curry would work superbly well with Butternut Squash too - I've done something similar myself in the past. Never thought of using sweet potato for it though for some reason!

Cheri remember that dried fruits, nuts and whole grain cereals are also excellent sources of iron. Look after your blood sugar levels too - the wholegrain cereals are good for slow release of energy too.

MrsMoo2U

Glad you like the recipe. Yes EH I use butternut squash and sweet potatoes together too but as I had butternut squash roast on Saturday I opted for sweet potatoes today. Dried fruits and nuts were on my shopping list this weekend EH too. I have definitely got to get back on track. A new Holland and Barrat has opened here so that is good. It means that I can also start buying my almond milk again and so lovely porridges with fruit and nuts for brekkie. I feel quite excited about sharing foodie bits on here. Thanks everyone

EssexHebridean

Remember that we are doing healthy eating/losing weight/getting fitter over on MG's thread too Cheri if it helps to have others treading a similar path - there are all sorts of reasons for wanting to eat better - but they all boil down to improving/looking after your health at the end of the day really don't they!