Iron: Everything You Need To Know
Iron is an essential mineral responsible for many functions in the human body. From sustaining healthy skin, hair and nails, as well as working to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP; the body’s main energy source), this is one mineral we can’t live without. But it may be the fact that it’s the main carrier of oxygen throughout the human body that makes it most essential. Too much or too little can wreak havoc on your health.
Hemoglobin mainly consists of nearly two-thirds of iron found in the human body. Hemoglobin is a substance found in red blood cells and is responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs and transporting it throughout the body.
If you’re lacking, then your body won’t be able to make enough healthy oxygen-carrying red blood cells, and without enough healthy red blood cells, your body won’t get the oxygen it needs.
This is known as iron deficiency anemia. Based on statistics presented by The World Health Organization, this deficiency is the leading nutritional disorder worldwide, while The National Institutes of Health states that, “as many as 80% of the world’s population may be deficient, while 30% may have iron deficiency anemia.”
“If you’re not getting sufficient oxygen in the body, you’re going to become fatigued. That exhaustion can affect everything from your brain function to your immune system’s ability to fight off infections. If you’re pregnant, severe deficiency may increase your baby’s risk of being born too early, or smaller than normal, says Paul Thomas, EdD, RD, a scientific consultant to the National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.
If you’re anemic, you may have the following symptoms:
- shortness of breath
- pale skin
- difficulty concentrating
- have cold hands and feet
- have sores in the corner of your mouth
- dizziness
- hair loss
- brittle nails
- fast heartbeat
- muscle fatigue
- sore tongue
- difficulty swallowing
- a weakened immune system
Iron can be found in a variety of foods, some meat-based (known as heme), while others are plant-based (nonheme). Here are some examples:
Nonheme:
- found in plant-based foods, such as beans and lentils
- oatmeal
- soybeans
- spinach
- iron-fortified cereals
Heme:
- red meats
- poultry
- fish
- liver
- oysters
- tuna
- turkey
The problem lies not in what you eat, but in how well your body absorbs nutrients, and this can be tricky. The absorption of iron can be affected by several factors. Even though most foods contain nonheme iron, it’s hemeiron that gets absorbed easier in the body. Additionally, most healthy adults absorb about 10 – 15% of the iron they ingest.
Those at most risk of deficiency are athletes who train frequently and at high intensity. Vegetarians may be at risk because their diet may lack in iron-rich foods.
Also at risk are:
- those who suffer from renal failure
- those who suffer from gastrointestinal disorders and can’t absorb iron efficiently
- pregnant women
- women with heavy menstrual cycles
There are ways to boost your body’s absorption of iron
- eat foods that contain high levels of Vitamin C (as strawberries, oranges, broccoli, peppers) with iron-rich foods
- combine 2 iron-rich foods together, such as beans and ground beef
- cook food in stainless steel pots or cast iron skillets
- supplements. Speak with your doctor about which supplement best meets your needs because supplements can cause various side effects, as nausea, diarrhea or constipation, and dark stools.
On the other hand, if most of your foods contain nonheme iron, it’s better to decrease your intake of drinks that contain tannin, such as coffee, tea, and wine, because they further decrease the absorption.
The daily recommended allowance is as follows:
- men, 19-years old and over: 8mg/day
- women, 18 – 51 years old: 18 mg/day
- pregnant women: 27 mg/day
- breastfeeding women: 10 mg/day
- women, over the age of 51: 8 mg/day
An interesting fact
About iron is that infants are born with a 6-month supply which means they require less amounts than adults. As we grow and develop, the lifestyle choices we make concerning food affect how our body absorbs and benefits. But the importance of this mineral cannot be stressed enough, mainly because lack of it causes a slew of serious health problems.
Take a good look at your diet, see which foods you’d like to add more of or do without altogether. Another good tip is to make sure your food combinations enhance the absorption of iron, rather than diminish it.
If you feel like you may be deficient, talk to your doctor about getting a blood test and a supplement that helps replenish levels.
