Question

The nurse provides education on increasing dietary iron to a client diagnosed with anemia. The nurse recommends the client eat which foods? (SATA)

1. Chicken livers
2. pork chop
3. hamburger
4. bananas
5. spinach
6. tofu

Answer 1

Chicken livers, hamburgers, and spinach are recommended by the nurse for a client with anemia to increase dietary iron intake. These foods are chosen for their high heme and non-heme iron content, with spinach and tofu being plant-based options.

Step-by-step explanation:

The dietary intake of iron is crucial for patients with anemia because iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood. To increase dietary iron, the nurse has recommended options that provide good sources of both heme and non-heme iron.

• Chicken livers are rich in heme iron, which is readily absorbed by the body.
• Pork chop provides heme iron, though not as high in iron as liver.
• Hamburger (red meat) is another good source of heme iron.
• Bananas contain non-heme iron and are also beneficial because they provide potassium.
• Spinach is a vegetable rich in non-heme iron and is best consumed with vitamin C to enhance iron absorption.
• Tofu is a soy product that contains non-heme iron and is a good option for vegetarians or those who prefer plant-based sources.

When advising patients about increasing iron in their diet, it's essential to consider both animal (heme iron) and plant sources (non-heme iron) as well as the importance of vitamin C in increasing the bioavailability of iron from foods.