Hemochromatosis

If you have hemochromatosis, there is a lot you can do to make your life as healthy as possible:

• Get check ups. Have the amount of iron in your blood tested regularly.

• Get your blood removed. Make sure to get phlebotomies when you need them.

• Watch the food you eat. Don't eat raw fish or raw shellfish.

• Limit your alcohol intake. If you choose to drink alcohol, drink very little. Women should have no more than one drink a day. Men should have no more than two a day. But if you have liver damage, do NOT drink any alcohol.

• Don't take iron pills. Don't take iron pills, supplements, or multivitamin supplements that have iron in them. But eating foods that contain iron is fine.

• Watch your vitamin C intake. Vitamin C increases the amount of iron your body absorbs. So don't take pills with more than 500mg of vitamin C per day. Eating foods with vitamin C is fine.

• Exercise. You can exercise as much as you want. Try to get 30 minutes of exercise every day to stay fit and healthy.