Have you felt enervated lately? Do you find it difficult to climb stairs without feeling breathless despite being physically fit? If you are feeling so, you might require iron. If you are a woman, iron is needed the most.
However, many individuals don’t reckon iron as being a vital nutrient. Undoubtedly, iron deficiency is one of the common and dangerous health issues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research, about 10% of women are iron deficient.
Now, let us discuss in detail why iron is important for your health, what can happen if you do not consume enough iron and when should you take iron substitutes:
Why is iron indispensable to your body?
Iron is one of the essential minerals for the human body as it helps to transfer the adequate amount of oxygen throughout the human body. Iron is a crucial element that is found in HB & red blood cells. It ships oxygen from the lungs to all over the human body. Hemoglobin is a blood protein that constitutes around two-thirds of the human body’s iron. If your body doesn’t have adequate iron, it is difficult for it to make sufficient healthy oxygen-carrying RBC. Lack of these blood cells in the body is known as iron deficiency or anemia. Iron is a crucial mineral and beneficial for the body in numerous ways. It’s consumption is necessary for maintaining overall wellbeing, including skin, nails, hairs etc.
Without having a sufficient amount of red blood cells, a human body can’t get ample oxygen. If your body is not getting enough oxygen, your body is going to be fatigued. In addition to this, low iron status also affects your brain function. It also lowers the immune system’s capacity to fight off severe infections. In pregnancy, iron deficiency may incline the baby’s possibility of being born untimely.
How much iron does the human body need?
The requirement of iron is not specific and depends on a plethora of factors, such as age, gender, and overall health. Generally, newborns & toddlers require much more iron than grown-ups. The reason is that their bodies are developing swiftly. Moreover, in childhood, the iron needs of both sexes are similar but subsequently changes in puberty time. Persons aged between 4 to 8 and 9 to 13 require 10 milligrams and 8 milligrams of iron, respectively.
Women require more iron because they lose blood every month during their menstruation period. Women of 19 to 50 age require 18 mg of iron every day, while men of the same age need 8 mg of iron. After menopause, a woman requires 8 mg of iron every day.
When & why you need to take iron alternatives?
If your body has an extremely low iron level, eating iron-rich food like fortified cereals, dried fruits, green veggies, and fruits may not be sufficient. Your doctor will recommend you to take iron supplements if you are suffering from iron deficiency. Then they recommend supplements and after a few days they again test your iron level.. The physicians recommend iron supplements for pregnant women because they need them very much.
What are the cons of consuming exorbitant amount of iron?
No, you cannot take a high dosage of iron supplements as it creates problems like constipation, sickness, stomach pain, nausea, fatigue, etc. In addition, a high dosage of iron supplements can be harmful, specifically if consumed by children. Therefore, always keep iron supplements away from children and, if needed, consult a physician and then give your kids the required amount of iron supplements.
To sum up,
Iron supplements are beneficial for those who are suffering from iron deficiency and anemia. Nowadays, iron supplements come in huge varieties, such as flavoured iron supplements. In addition, you can give your children iron gummies if they are suffering from iron deficiency. Taking a proper iron diet with iron supplements can mitigate the risk of iron deficiency.