Bloodwork results from lab Summer 2014

[VitaminB12]

July 24, 2014 8 am (bus to lab)

TSH 5.95
Reference range 0.35 – 5.00 miU/L


Free T4 13
Reference range 12 – 22 pmol/L


Free T3 4
Reference range 2.6 – 5.7 pmol/L


Vitamin B12 746
Reference range >220 pmol/L


Ferretin/iron 37
Reference ranges 31 – 79  ug/L reduced iron stores, 80 – 300 ug/L normal iron stores

I found out recently that I having been drinking too much water given the high water content in my diet (plenty of vegetables and fruit). The symptoms I attribute to hypothyroidism are also symptoms of too much water. See my other post entitled Drinking too much water? I wonder if too much water is the reason I don't have enough iron in my system or if I have an absorption issue. I went to a talk about water by a medical professional at my local natural health store a while ago.  

[VitaminB12]

I just found out recently there's an issue with the Bean Medley product again. How annoying.

[VitaminB12]

I'm pleased that one of the grocery stores I shop at regularly has just brought back a product they had discontinued. It's called Bean Medley (can of chickpeas, red kidney beans & romano beans). According to the nutrition facts label in a serving of 1 cup it contains 35% of your daily value for iron.

[VitaminB12]

Thanks, I am already aware of the iron/Vitamin C connection.

[23chris]

Make sure you eat those lentils with a good source of Vit C. Eaten at the same time, Vit C increases iron absorption. Cooking in cast iron is also helpful as some iron will be transferred into the food though it may affect flavor.

As for your water intoxication link, that's pretty much poppycock imho. An adult in good  general health should be able to tolerate a half gallon of fluids/day easily. If you're sweating profusely or are vomitting, have severe diarrhea, or on certain medications where electrolytes are being lost, that's a different story and where plain water drunk in large quantities can cause water intoxication.That's why God made Gatorade and pedialyte. There is difference between fluids and free water.

[VitaminB12]

Thanks for your reply. I figure a month isn't that long. I just invested in a good quality large heavy-bottom saucepan for cooking lentils which are suppose to have 50% of your daily value for iron in a serving. That's good for a plant source compared to other foods.  

[Barb135]

I just now saw you post, asking my opinion.  That would be one I wouldn't have been able to give, as it would have to be your decision.

I don't think your levels are going to increase that much by increasing your intake of food with iron, since most of the foods we've discussed aren't really "rich" in iron; they merely have some in them.  Waiting is probably not going to change much.

[VitaminB12]

I have decided to keep my September 30 appointment with the doctor re: iron/ferretin levels. I see the specialist re: tendinitis on October 8.

[VitaminB12]

I talked with staff at the doctor's office this morning by phone. They didn't know the answer to my question. Then I called the lab and they said it is up to the doctor to order what he thinks is necessary. I don't have an appointment to discuss my ferretin/iron concern until September 30 through pre-booking. Otherwise I have to call in the same day and hope he is available when I am around my work schedule and his limited hours. This delay will allow me to experiment with increasing my intake of foods rich in iron such as lentils for 1 month before I request further bloodwork. Perhaps if I don't have an absorption issue my levels will increase slightly? The other option is to call in next week for a same day appointment and request an iron panel now and cancel Sept. 30 What do you think is the best course of action given the circumstances. Here are the dates for reduced iron stores (low ferretin) results: Dec. 9, 2013 and July 24, 2014.

[VitaminB12]

Thanks for your post. I'm playing phone tag with the doctor's office. My call was returned on my home line when I was at work today and the office is now closed. So I have to call back tomorrow morning if I remember as tomorrow afternoon I have an out of town appointment. And the doctor's office is closed Friday afternoon.

[Barb135]

Good that you've found more options.

Did you ever hear back about the iron panel?  Hope you will get it.

[VitaminB12]

I just found another brand of yogurt made in my province that is 4% and available in a store I have been going to occasionally not far from home on foot. Store has more limited hours though. So I now have a couple options if I wish to eat full fat plain yogurt.

I called the doctor's office to ask if an iron panel would be covered by government health insurance for a patient with reduced iron stores (ferretin result). I am waiting for a return call.

[VitaminB12]

Thank you for your post. The particular brand of plain yogurt I like that is available in 3.8% MF is only stocked in one of the grocery stores I frequent and it's a further walk from home. It is made in the Canadian province in which I live. The other brands I have eaten only seem to be available in nonfat or 2% and they are also Canadian, but come from other provinces. I got away from eating cottage cheese.

[Barb135]

You're right, margarine isn't real food... it's one molecule from being plastic.  I do buy butter and because I'm struggling to keep type II diabetes at bay, I'm very careful about the amount of sugar in anything I buy, including my yogurt.

While most of the yogurt in my local grocery store is nonfat, we do have cottage cheese that's labeled like you say - nonfat, 2% and 4%, which is full fat.

[VitaminB12]

Thank you for your post. Please see my reply to Barb135 about yogurt and butter. The Kefir is 2% not full fat. One brand of yogurt I sometimes buy comes in "no fat", 2% and 3.8% or something like that. I eat plain not flavoured yogurt and Kefir because I don't want the added sugar ...

[VitaminB12]

Thanks for your post. Margarine isn't real food, butter is. While I don't buy butter I do enjoy it as a treat occasionally when I'm out. I eat yogurt that is plain.The sugar in it is milk sugar not added sugar. I'll post more later.

[Barb135]

Yes, avocados, nuts seeds, olive oil and seed butters are good fats... there's a difference between that and "no fat".

I agree with Red_Star about the fat in dairy, but it's hard to find full fat yogurt in my local grocery store.   I also eat "real butter" as opposed to margarine or other "spreads" that are supposed to be better for you.  

[Red_Star]

Here is some info from Authority Nutrition's article: Top 11 “Diet” Foods That Make You Fat Instead of Thin...

"5. Low Fat Yogurt

Yogurt is often considered to be a healthy food… and it is.

But the problem is that most yogurt found in stores is low-fat yogurt… which is highly processed garbage.

When food manufacturers remove the fat from foods, they taste terrible. That’s why they add a whole bunch of other stuff to compensate for the lack of fat.

In the case of yogurt, they usually add sugar, high fructose corn syrup or some kind of artificial sweetener.

But new studies are showing that saturated fat is actually harmless… so low-fat yogurt has had the good stuff removed, only to be replaced with something that is much, much worse (12, 13).

There is also no evidence that dairy fat contributes to obesity. In fact, one study showed that people who ate the most high-fat dairy products were the least likely to become obese (14)!

So… eat real, full-fat yogurt, but avoid low-fat yogurt like the plague.

Bottom Line: Low-fat yogurt is yogurt that has had the good stuff (saturated fat) removed, only to be replaced with something much worse, like sugar."

[VitaminB12]

So you think even though I eat a fair amount of avocados, nuts and seeds and seed butter as well as cold pressed extra virgin olive oil that I ought to consider 2% over no fat yogurt/Greek yogurt/Kefir as a staple? I was alternating because of my other healthy fat intake.

[Barb135]

Yur body needs healthy fats. You do yourself no  favor by eating no fat

[VitaminB12]

The protein content for tahini is 5 g per 30 g serving and for hemp seeds is 10 g per 30 g serving.Tahini has 10% daily value for calcium.

[VitaminB12]

Yes, please do share the info. I appreciate that we can all learn from each other. I wonder if the iron content is the same for red lentils (they dont' keep their shape when cooked).

Good point about calorie/fat count. Pumpkin seed butter isn't something I would eat every day as it has 20% of daily value for fat. It does also have 10 g of protein in a 30 g serving.

Red kidney beans 17 g of protein in 1 cup/250 ml (labels mix
measurements which I find frustrating).with 4% of daily value for fat

Green lentils (to be cooked) 23 g of protein in 3/4 cup/100g with 2% daily value for fat

Also tahini 20% daily value of iron with 25% daily value for fat.
Raw hemp seeds 30% value of iron in 3 tablespoon serving with 20% daily value for fat. So both not something to eat every day.

Re: FAT
Please note I eat no fat and 2% yogurt/Greek yogurt/Kefir.
I steam many of my vegetables and I hard boil eggs.

[Barb135]

Very interesting.  I have a good friend who dearly loves lentils; she makes lentil soup nearly every week during the winter, I think.. I'm going to send this to her if you don't mind.

Have you checked the calorie/fat count in these foods (I think pumpkin seed butter would have quite a bit) and can you eat those amounts of them every day to make sure you get sufficient iron?  I, personally, might be good for a day or two, then I'd be looking for something different to eat.

I think, both, red kidney beans and lentils are good sources of protein, as well, but I'd have to verify that.  Unfortunately, I'm not a big bean eater... the texture gets me every time.  I'm working on overcoming that, though I don't intend to give my meat products either.  

Let's keep digging on this; maybe we'll all get healthier.  :-)

[VitaminB12]

Thanks for your reply. No, I have yet to discuss my concern about "reduced iron stores" with my doctor.

Check this out:
1 cup serving of red kidney beans 25% of daily value for iron
30 g serving of pumpkin seed butter 30% of daily value for iron
3/4 cup serving of green lentils 50% of daily value for iron

I need to get a large, heavy-bottom saucepan to cook lentils..

[Barb135]

You're correct that it would be better to wait for supplementation until after you have the iron panel, but if your doctor is reluctant to order it, you're only hurting yourself by waiting.

Have you discussed this with your doctor?