Will iron supplementation turn stools black?

Supplementing iron is very helpful for the body to synthesize blood. If a large amount of iron is supplemented, the excess iron may mix with other medications taken to form a black substance. This black substance cannot be digested and will be excreted from the body, so the stool will appear black. This situation is normal, and pregnant women can rest assured to supplement other nutrients normally. Let’s find out through the following article.

1. Will the stool turn black after taking iron supplements?

Stool can reflect the health of the human body. Medicines can cause black stools. Oral iron supplements for blood tonic, bismuth supplements for treating stomach problems and certain Chinese medicines can also cause black stools.

2. How should pregnant women supplement iron?

1. Eat more iron-rich foods: Before and just after pregnancy, you should start paying attention to eating more lean meat, poultry, animal liver and blood (duck blood, pig blood), eggs and other iron-rich foods. Soy products contain more iron and have a higher absorption rate in the intestines, so you should be careful about your intake. Eat more pasta as your staple food. Pasta contains more iron than rice and is better absorbed by the intestines than rice.

2. Eat more foods that help iron absorption: Fruits and vegetables can not only supplement iron, but the vitamin C they contain can also promote the absorption of iron in the intestines. Therefore, while eating iron-rich foods, it is best to eat more fruits and vegetables, which also have a good iron supplement effect. It is best for expectant mothers to eat eggs and meat at the same time to improve the utilization of iron in eggs. Or you can eat eggs and tomatoes at the same time, the vitamin C in tomatoes can increase the absorption rate of iron.

3. Use iron utensils to cook more often: Try to use iron pots and iron shovels when cooking. These traditional utensils will produce some small iron filings when cooking food, which will dissolve in the food to form soluble iron salts, making it easier for the intestines to absorb iron.

4. Eat more foods rich in folic acid: Take folic acid supplements from 3 months before pregnancy until 3 months after pregnancy. Pay attention to eating foods rich in folic acid, such as liver, kidney, green leafy vegetables, fish, eggs, grains, soy products, nuts, etc. Also, when cooking, be careful not to use too high a temperature or cook for too long.