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
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