When and What to Drink

Did you realise that what you’re drinking could be damaging your health? Your favourite mealtime drink may be doing you more harm than good. Everyday drinks such as tea, coffee and milk tend to interfere with your body’s iron absorption.

It is vital for women to have enough Iron. Over 40% of British women under thirty-four are at risk of iron deficiency anaemia.

Caffeine Drinks
Any caffeinated drink (including fizzy drinks) makes it harder for your body to absorb iron. Tea and coffee reduce iron absorption by over 50%. Caffeinated drinks also affect the absorption of calcium and zinc. Calcium is needed for healthy teeth and bones, blood clotting and muscle strength.

What time of day is best to drink it?
Tea and coffee is always best to drunk in moderation, but if you must drink it, make it at least an hour before or after a meal to stop it hindering the absorption of minerals such as iron, calcium and zinc.

What about Milk?
Milk itself contains some iron, but not a lot. Essentially, it is the calcium and phosphates contained in milk and other dairy products, which reduce iron absorption, and this is why you should avoid drinking milk with meals. Milky tea and coffee with your meal is best avoided too, since both milk and caffeinated drinks deplete iron reserves, it is not advised to combine the two at mealtimes!

When should you drink it?
As with caffeinated drinks, leave at least an hour before and after a meal containing iron. If the meal contains calcium but no iron, it is fine to drink milk with it to aid the calcium absorption.

Fruit drinks
Any vitamin C drink at mealtimes will aid iron absorption. The ascorbic acid found in vitamin C promotes iron absorption. It is important that the iron and vitamin C are consumed together, so drink the orange juice whilst you are eating for optimum iron absorption.

And alcohol?
There’s a good reason why the French drink wine with their meals, it helps iron absorption and contains some iron itself.

Finally, a good excuse to get the wine in!