how much fruit?

Allergies, blood and immune system
1

Hi Everyone

I've read that those with HH need 1000 to 2000 mg vitamin C from fruit daily.  How much fruit do you eat?

Thank you

Linda

2

Not a lot - too much sugar!  1-2 small serves in the morning in the hope of working it off during the day as we don't tolerate sugar and starches very well.  However for an 80+ HH patient, he would need lots of antioxidants + fibre.

 

3

Hi Sheryl

Thanks for your email, as always

He is sedentary, so won't be able to work it off, but he is getting the pureed fresh fruit between meals, so any iron won't be absorbed, if eaten with meals (or does that only apply to vitamin C capsules?)

He should be eating 5 to 6 small meals (snacks) a day, instead of 3 regular meals

4

Hi strathroy - no, that is fine.  While I have an aggressively behaving HH, I really have to admit I would not survive without having a vit C supplement (a chewable one) last thing at night, hours after eating.  Otherwise I would be constantly fluey. One x 500?? chases away a sore throat overnight for me.

Because we have low immunity, we need all the antioxidants we can get (in a safe way).

 

5

HI Sheryl

Thanks again for the info

6

Be careful what you read. A patient with HH should avoid vitamin C. Vit C increases   the amount of iron absorbed in your gut. You need some in your diet but high doses or supplements are a definate no-no! A good rule of thumb is to not take any vitamin supplements unless prescribed by a doctor.

7

Hi Bonesaus

Thanks for your email.

I've heard both sides, but HH patients are usually deficient in vitamin C,  and need it, but away from meals with iron.  I would send the link, but the moderator won't allow links.

Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the named person/directions to a specific web site and we do allow links as long as they conform to the rules. If they do not then users can exchange these details using the Private Message service.

http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

8

bonesaus, you are right, we should not believe everything we read on the internet.  Commonsense is required.  But research will tell you that most iron is absorbed in the duodena area, and once food is past that stage, vit C will not cause uptake of iron that is not in the stomach.  So timing is everything.  It works for me, otherwise I would be sick all the time from low immunity problems.

You must have a very good dr for you to depend so much on him/her getting it right.  In my experience, they know zero about HH and will tell patients to stop eating meat and green vegetables which have 'high' iron.  I have had many people tell me that about their drs and even my current gp and endocrinologist assumed I no longer ate meat or red meat because I had HH.

They do not take the time to search out all the complications caused by HH, and even my haemotologist/oncologist cannot give me answers other than being a very good monitor of my iron levels, and knowing it can cause liver, thyroid, and joint problems.

My earlier gp took 9 years to diagnose HH because she did not believe I had HH - she was waiting for me to turn yellow.  I was already well 'tanned'.  A lot of damage was done to my organs and bones because of this delay.  There was no google back then for me to find out for myself.  So I no longer depend on drs to get it right, we have to educate ourselves (and them).

While strathroy questions seem out of the blue and look like they are standing alone, they are a continuation of her seeking answers to help a very ill, elderly gentleman who currently has cirrhosis, and surgery for duodenal ulcers, HH with high ferritin, and very low iron.  So treatment is complicated.  You may find her earlier posts providing this information.

Yes, a healthy diet is required, optimally for him (as much as he can get in a nursing home).  The optimal part is the what she is seeking and I commend her dedication.