so this has nothing to do with dieting (except when you donate a pint of blood you do lose like a pound of weight... until you drink a bunch of water) but... it's good Karma.
Also, in my quest to make lifestyle changes that can last a lifetime, this past year I have begun adding some volunteer work and gifts to my regular routine. Since I have a lot of interests, I am just doing little things that don't take much of my time, but can mean a lot to someone.
I volunteer at the local cable access tv station on 2 shows twice a month. I can run cameras or graphics in the control room and in a pinch I am certified (but not confident) in running audio (microphones). Today I will be training to READ FOR THE BLIND on radio/tv public access. This iwll be a 2 hour shift weekly but I am sharing it with a fellow Toastmaster (Toastmasters is also a volunteer educational charity) and last year I started donating whole blood every 8 weeks... until this past Sunday!
Sunday, when I went to donate they told me, for the first time, that my hemoglobin (iron) was too low! REALLY!!! They said it wasnt so much that a doctor would care, but that the blood bank has higher standards, because they are taking it and that might lower it more.
And they sent me home, untapped, so to speak.
I got on the internet and began searching. I didn't want to change my vitamins. Women over a 'certain age' shouldn't be taking lots of iron. But I don't eat fortified cereals nor bread anymore (lifestyle changes!!!) but I wanted to raise it and be healthy!
Turns out that Black Beans have like 15% of your daily iron per 1/2 cup serving! and only 110 calories! Spinach is even better with 5% per cup of those fresh raw leaves. CASHEWS are 9% a one ounce serving and 160 calories so... figure that in! Raisins... also a good treat... 4% and 129 calories almost the same as POPCORN! 4% and 146 calories! Banana has about 2% not great but hey, they are a prepacked fruit so I lke putting them in the lunch box! and that morning serving of Oatmeal isn't bad either at round 7 or 8%!
I went back this morning to donate platelets and was turn away - but their mistake b/c I have asthma. Working to correct that now. HOWEVER, they did the hemoglobin test first thing and.... my count... 13.9!!!! woo hooo!!!! I think I might have even beaten my hubs hemoglobin count!
So - eat your beans... maybe not daily like I did, maybe a couple of times a week, watch your diet. Food choices make a difference, not just in weight but in overall health! Add some raw spinach leaves to your salad and on sandwiches and to your eggs... really really good sauteed with onions in butter!!! Don't over do it, but do pay attention to your food!
And of course, consider DONATING BLOOD - it could save a life! and that's good karma!