Anemic ridazz

Thread started by
meow at 05.17.09 - 4:41 pm
i've been getting light headed when i get off my bike, especially lately and sometimes really badly (also just turned vegetarian, but i do take iron supplements)... i don't know if i'm taking the wrong kind or what... i don't even think there are very many different kinds of iron supplements..... anyway, funanu gave me a good idea, because i don't really know what to do. the doc said just keep taking the pills, like most doctors say... feedback?
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it's probably low blood pressure rather than anemia. the same thing used to happen to me.
eat more salt. preferably in canned bean form.
slowrighthand05.17.09 - 4:45 pm
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You are probably not getting enough electrolytes (sodium and potassium, mostly).
Us long distance ridazz have to chug gatorade and other stuff to avoid getting dehydrated and bonking, you may be experiencing the same thing.
ephemerae05.17.09 - 4:50 pm
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you're eating too many high glycemic carbohydrates. you need more good fats and protein. take an iron supplemnt
blackflaglover05.17.09 - 8:46 pm
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Need iron?
Eat lentils, or some other legumes.
rayrayray05.17.09 - 8:49 pm
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maybe you can predict earthquakes?
User105.17.09 - 8:51 pm
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Coconut water! biologically Pure, full of Natural Sugars, Salts, and Vitamins to ward off fatigue.
It almost identical to blood plasma, hydrates you almost immediately, has a fuckload of electrolytes and potassium.
DUE IT
Candy Cane05.17.09 - 8:56 pm
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Coconut water is awesome. Tons of potassium and good stuff, just like CC said. But as for the iron, it's important to *eat* foods that are high in iron too, sometimes our bodies just don't assimilate nutrients in pill form, they're in a foreign form. I had this problem this weekend, and recovered by loading up on high-iron foods: eggs if you eat them, spinach, almonds, dark green leafy veggies, soy-products too. Also, make sure you are still getting enough protein from legumes, nuts, soy, peanut butter is good. You're probably adjusting tho, and over a little bit of time it should cease. If not, eat more!
kryxtanicole responding to a
comment by Candy Cane
05.18.09 - 8:21 am
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MEOW!!!
I'm anemic too.. I became that way after being broke and eating pasta everyday with no real nutrients or veggies. It got so bad that if i worked hard my vision would go and all i could see was 'snow' like on a tv screen with no signal.
I got checked out, and started taking an iron supplement pill everyday (really cheap) and also started eating a good amount of meat. Now i don't get those spells at all. it seemed like eating a good variety is whats keeping me from hitting those lows since i only took the iron pills for less than a month.
richtotheie05.18.09 - 9:25 am
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Yeah, I've got problems with low iron too... I didn't realize it until I tried donating blood in college and they said I was borderline too low, but let me do it anyway.
I stopped eating meat when I moved to California, but I eat a lot of beans, and I think that's keeping me feeling alright.
All good suggestions above in terms of keeping up your electrolytes, etc. Coconut water FTW on long rides.
canadienne05.18.09 - 9:56 am
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ah i get those white flashes! and my face gets very cold and sweaty. it's weird, with alcohol it's a "black out"& things turn black for a second. but with this i fainted a couple times in the past and everything is white and very bright when my eyes are closed.
meow responding to a
comment by richtotheie
05.18.09 - 10:27 am
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thank you for your suggestions! i bought some coconut water yesterday and i think i'm about to over dee on it. i like this shit. fankoo fankoo.
meow05.18.09 - 10:30 am
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oh man, i forgot to take the iron supplements for like 2 days a little while ago, and then i took 2 to catch up and when i pooped my poop like like a dalmatian. not so white, it was like light brown with black spots. but anyway, i don't think the pills are assimilating so well all the time either.
meow05.18.09 - 10:34 am
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I believe the medical term for that is polka-poop.
canadienne responding to a
comment by meow
05.18.09 - 11:04 am
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i was a vegetarian for 2 in a half years and i didn't take the iron pills and my hair started falling out and i became anemic and after 8 months of taking iron pills WITH vitamin C pills to help the iron get into my system and a multivitamin to make the other pills work better my anemia went away.... just make sure to take the iron pills with vitamin C pills and a multi vitamin... plus if you just take the Iron by itself its hard on your food digestion.
baby_jane05.18.09 - 10:42 pm
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LOL... sorry I lost it w/ the Dalmatian poop! so funny. But seriously iron supplements helped me too when I'd get that light headed thing... it happened a lot when I was younger, but not so much now. Spinach is really good for you too! Gets the god oxygen rich blood to your brain.
mixtemotions05.19.09 - 12:52 am
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i dont feel it after a ride,
i usually feel like shit in the morning when i wake up.
also when one of my organs fail. seriously.
_iJunes05.19.09 - 10:19 am
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I've been biking and vegan for about two years now. Never had to supplement anything but B-12. I also take spirulina because it's just a great food.
Anywho, to avoid bonking like that, load up on salts. Bananas, avocados, and figs are all high in potassium. When you sweat, you're losing salts, especially potassium, so stock up, eat WHILE riding. Make sure to regularly consume salt to keep up your sodium levels as well (mix a touch in your water if you're on a long ride).
Before riding, a few hours before, I would load up on carbs, both complex and simple. Oats, rice, wheat, dried fruits, and a mildly sugary snack. This will provide you with the base for energy while on the road.
I would also regularly consume fats. Saturated Fats (nut butters, coconut oil) take longer to burn and definitely give you longer reserves on the road. But mono and poly unsaturated fats (olive oil, avocados) are good for keeping your body healthy, so don't skimp on those either.
Coconut Oil is a highly efficient Saturated Fat as it is a very complete and dense fat. It burns cleanly (both in the human body and in diesel engines) and has other various health benefits. That being said, it IS a saturated fat, so don't take it too often, just when you need a long lasting fuel source.
Of course, protein is important, as it is the building blocks that will put your muscles back together after you have partially destroyed them on the ride. So get plenty of protein (quinoa, hemp, soy, etc. etc. etc.)
Finally, get plenty of sleep, some good deep REM dreaming sleep!! That's when your body truly rebuilds itself.
Get your iron and vitamin c from food sources, it's not too hard (beans, quinoa, green leafy vegetables).
infiniteawesome05.20.09 - 3:02 am
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julia what the F i didnt see you made this thread
HANDBONE05.20.09 - 4:20 am
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you really are infinite awesome. thank you so much for all that.
meow responding to a
comment by infiniteawesome
05.20.09 - 9:00 am
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