Deborah, age 24, is a Caucasian woman who is attending her first prenatal appointment with the clinic obstetrician. Deborah is single and employed in a minimum-wage job with limited financial resources. She resides with her mother. In the first month of her pregnancy, Deborah has experienced mild nausea but no vomiting and has had a ravenous appetite. Because she works as a waitress, she has access to balanced meals at breakfast and lunch, whereas at home she and her mother primarily eat ready-to-eat dinners and occasionally make a home-cooked meal. She is a well-appearing, normal-weight woman with no known medical conditions. She is taking no medications except for an over-the-counter prenatal vitamin-mineral supplement, which she began on her own the day she administered her pregnancy self-test two weeks ago. She does not smoke nor drink alcohol. Because she does not own a car, she walks about four miles a day; however, she has been very tired and may need to decrease the number of shifts she works at the restaurant if that continues.
Deborah needs more iron in her diet in addition to the prenatal vitamin-mineral supplement that she takes. What foods are recommended for Deborah to increase her supply of heme iron before and during pregnancy?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Seafood is the best choice for increasing heme iron in the diet. Heme iron is found in animal products such as meat, fish, and poultry. Seafood is a good source of heme iron, particularly shellfish such as oysters, clams, and mussels. Citrus fruits, legumes, dark green vegetables, and eggs are good sources of non-heme iron, which is not as well-absorbed by the body as heme iron. While these foods may still be beneficial for Deborah's overall nutrition, they will not provide as much heme iron as seafood.

Deborah, Age 24, Is a Caucasian Woman Who Is Attending