[Villages PL]

We talked about iron being very bad for older adults. That may be one of the big reasons for not eating red meat. Red meat is rich in iron. Then at one time we mentioned that most seniors should avoid multivitamins containing iron.

But how about fortified cereals? I don't recall that being mentioned. I looked at some of the cereals like "Special K" and "All Bran" and they are all fortified with iron. Some of these cereals, like All Bran, would be attractive to seniors who suffer from constipation but the extra iron could be bad for them(long term).

I looked at All Bran because I read that it had a good amount of niacin. But there's no way I will eat it with all of the other stuff it has, like iron. It's a good reminder of what you get with processed foods.

[gerryann]

Never heard that seniors werenot supposed to have iron?

[graciegirl]

It appears that diet should supply older adults with enough iron and that you should consult with your doctor before taking a supplement.

http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500165_162-20118479.html

Is An Iron Supplement Bad For You? | LIVESTRONG.COM

I personally have been very disinclined to take supplements because I really try very hard to cook and serve a balanced diet because it tastes good, smells good, is good and good for us...most of the time. I have cut down on quantity of meat and upped our vegetables and have tried to cut back sweets. Sweetie is a cookie sneaker inner.......

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

It appears that diet should supply older adults with enough iron and that you should consult with your doctor before taking a supplement.

Some supplements may up older women's death odds - CBS News

Is An Iron Supplement Bad For You? | LIVESTRONG.COM

I personally have been very disinclined to take supplements because I really cook and serve a balanced diet.

Thanks for the links. I believe there are supplements made especially for seniors but I haven't looked at them. I eat nothing but healthy food so I don't believe in taking multivitamins.

Maybe they need special fortified cereals for seniors but where would they find the shelf space?

[hoseman]

Interesting short video:

How to extract iron from cereal. [VIDEO]

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by hoseman

Interesting short video:

How to extract iron from cereal. [VIDEO]

Very nice, I like it!

Here's another thought: One serving of All Bran is a half cup. But a hungry person could likely eat 2, 3 or 4 servings. Four servings might be the equivalent of taking 4 multi-vitamins. Thatever the amount, 4 servings would give you 4 times the iron of one serving.