We are in the midst of trying to determine why our oldest son is suddenly suffering from iron deficiency anemia.  While it is one of the most common forms of anemia diagnosed in the U.S., Canada and worldwide, it is still very upsetting to this mother that her son is losing iron and his red blood cell production is way down.

Even more concerning is what I have just recently learned about cow's milk: it PREVENTS the absorption of iron into the body.

Huh?

Yes - you read that right.

Cow's milk acts as a blocker to the body's ability to absorb iron.  Our blood must have iron in order to produce red blood cells.  Without the normal production of red blood cells, oxygen is not properly distributed throughout the bloodstream and throughout the body.  Further, when there is too much consumption of cow's milk and other dairy (cow) products, there can also be a subtle internal bleeding in the lining of the stomach and in the intestines that may go undetected until circumstances like we are dealing with arise; we won't know if this is a factor until further tests are run.

The strange thing is, the Got Milk? ads don't bother to educate the public on the dangers of too much milk consumption.  It's not so strange when you consider it's all about promoting big ag-dairy sales all for the bottom line of  increasing profits.  Makes my temper flare.....

Likewise, women and young teen girls are at high risk for iron deficiency anemia due to menstrual cycles.  All you hear lately is that women need to drink milk for calcium to prevent osteoporosis and to maintain healthy and strong bones..........nevermind the entire time you're drinking all this milk, your body isn't absorbing any iron.

Meanwhile, my son, now 14,  is in the midst of a major growth spurt - this too can play a factoring role in low iron.  Rapid growth phases can deplete the body's iron supply.  We are not big or tall people, but rapid growing is rapid growing.  Last Wednesday, the doctor's office measured him at 5'1"; yesterday the doctor's office measured him at 5'2".  Notwithstanding what we've already witnessed in his recent growth, he's grown an inch in just this one week.

The shocking surprise is that this is a boy who eats voraciously and eats very well - he would eat brussel sprouts at every meal if we could stand it!  But all the while he's cooking everyone a 4 course breakfast every morning at 7 a.m. - he's downing it all with lots and lots of - you guessed it - milk.

We are working closely with our physician and a specialist with a plan of action that includes prescribed iron supplements and, to the grave disappointment of my son, limiting his intake of milk.  When we illustrated what three 8 ounce servings of milk really were - he was in shock!  He's not a big juice drinker (he never has been) and can easily consume 1/2 gallon of milk or more per day.

Meanwhile, this Momma has rolled her sleeves up to do some research on dairy goats and organic gardening and we have someone on their way out this afternoon to test our well water also.

Parents beware: what you don't know can hurt your children - even milk!  All things in moderation has a greater application than we all too often don't stop and think about in today's fast paced lifestyles - even life, here, on the Dirt Road.

Harriette