Hemochromatosis
Means Too Much Iron

Got too much iron?
People with hemochromatosis
who eat high fiber meals
enjoy more in life.

A healthy diet cannot prevent an iron disorder. But once diagnosis and treatment restore normal iron levels, you can help keep yourself healthy with a high fiber diet.

You cannot void iron in your diet — your body does require iron to function normally. But what you eat can make excessive iron unlikely.

A healthy diet based on high fiber foods provides abundant plant-based nutrition, with the type of iron your body needs. High fiber foods are certain to provide dietary fiber, along with all the antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients you need for good health.

When you know you have hemochromatosis:

Learn What to Eat

• Fresh fruits and vegetables provide antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
  • Snack on fruit or carrots when you need energy.
  • Add extra vegetables (kale, bok choy, carrot) to salads, stir-fry and pasta dishes.
• Whole grains provide the fiber your digestive tract requires.
  • Put whole grain cereal in your breakfast bowl.
• Nuts and fruits like avocados provide healthy fats.
  • Great nutrition in a n-u-t (watch the calories)!
• Whole, unprocessed food delivers a balance of nutrition; supplements can upset that balance.
  • Look for food products that are less processed.
  • Choose baked goods made from whole grain flour to get more nutrition.

And What to Avoid

• Limit diary foods that can cause mucous buildup in the intestines.
• Limit animal fat to avoid free radical damage.
• Limit vitamin C supplements. Vitamin C increases iron absorption.
• Avoid sugars that can increase iron absorption and free radical cell damage.
• Avoid raw shell fish to lower risk of bacteria infection.

This iron disorder is a common and serious genetic condition. Only early diagnosis and treatment can help you to avoid the most serious consequences — diabetes, heart conditions, osteoporosis, arthritis, cirrhosis or cancer of the liver, impotence or infertility, hypothyroidism, or serious depression. Left untreated, the affect on the brain may cause neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, epilepsy, Huntington's disease, and multiple sclerosis.

For more information about hemochromatosis diagnosis, treatment, and management, visit the Iron Disorders Institute web site. You will see the institute suggests a diet that includes fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains — foods you find in a high fiber diet.