Our body uses iron to make two proteins: haemoglobin and myoglobin. Haemoglobin assists your red blood cells in moving the oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. Myoglobin aids in bringing oxygen to your muscles.
Iron is an essential mineral used in making hormones, as well as tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissue. We are going to answer all queries regarding iron.
What happens if Your Body doesn’t Get Enough Iron?
At first, you might not notice anything because the body will use whatever iron it has stored in your muscles, bones, liver, and elsewhere. But when iron is scarce, the red blood cells will get smaller and will be able to carry less haemoglobin. This means that your body might develop anaemia because less oxygen will get delivered throughout the rest of your body.
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What Are the Symptoms of Anaemia?
If you are anaemic, then you may feel tired, weak, or dizzy and have pale skin, cold hands, headaches, a fast pulse, and digestive problems. Your body temperature will vary more than usual, and a weak immune system could make you sick more often. Anaemia affects your ability to think clearly and remember things. Children suffering from anaemia develop learning problems.
What is the Reason for Low Iron?
You can get a deficiency of iron if your diet isn’t great or you don’t eat much meat, fish, or poultry. When you lose blood due to injury or illness (like ulcers or colon cancer) or have a condition that hampers digestion, it could also result in iron deficiency.
Women are more prone to anaemia, especially once their monthly cycle starts or if they’re pregnant.
How Much Iron Do You Need?
A man should get about 8 milligrams (mg) per day, and women need double of that: about 18 mg per day. But if you are pregnant, you may need 27mg, and if you are breastfeeding, then 10 mg. Older women of 50 and above needs to eat the same amount of iron as men, which is 8 mg per day.
If you’re Vegetarian or Vegan?
Vegetarians or vegans should eat almost double the daily iron amount that doctors recommend for meat eaters because iron from vegetables isn’t easily absorbed as it does from animal protein like fish, chicken, and meat.
Which Foods Provide Iron?
Foods that contain sufficient iron are- Oysters, beef liver, lentils, white beans, and spinach, beans, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, whole grains, and green leafy vegetables. Seafood, Lean meat, and poultry are great animal sources of iron.
Do You Need Iron Supplements?
Usually, we get enough iron from food. Too much iron is harmful to health, causing stomach cramps, constipation, diarrhoea, nausea, and light-headedness. So, consult your doctor first before taking any iron supplements.
If you are pregnant, you need more iron for yourself and your baby. Iron deficiency in the baby results in low body weight and may cause problems with parts of your baby’s brain development. Your doctor may prescribe you supplements to keep you safe.
Around 10% of toddlers and infants don’t get enough iron. If your baby was born early or is underweight, this could later lead to behavior and attention problems. Consult your doctor on keeping track of your child’s iron requirements and, if needed, supplement your child’s iron.
