What is Iron?

Iron is a mineral that is essential for your body’s growth and development. Along with helping the body manufacture important hormones, iron is primarily used to make two proteins: hemoglobin and myoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body, and myoglobin provides oxygen to muscles. 

Signs of Iron Deficiency:

Without iron, the body does not receive enough oxygen to function properly, leading to a condition called iron deficiency anemia. Signs of iron deficiency anemia can include:

• Extreme fatigue
• Muscle weakness
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid heartbeat
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Pale skin
• Chest pain
• Cold hands and feet
• Inflammation or soreness of your tongue
• Brittle nails
• Strange cravings for ice, dirt, or starchy foods
• Lack of appetite

Iron Deficiency Causes:

Some causes of iron deficiency anemia can include:

• Iron-deficient diets, such as vegan/vegetarian or other diets low in animal products
• Blood loss due to an accident, menstruation, peptic ulcer, hernia, colon polyp, or colorectal cancer
• Inability to absorb iron due to an intestinal disorder such as celiac disease, which affects the intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients from food
• Pregnancy, due to increased blood volume and the baby’s need for hemoglobin to grow optimally

Benefits of Iron Supplementation:

Supplements containing iron can also be used to top up iron levels with benefits that include:  

• Reversal of iron deficiency anemia
• Increased energy
• Reduced inflammation
• Stronger nails
• Better circulation