Remarkable Health Benefits of Iron
Remarkable Health Benefits of Iron
Iron has many health benefits for your body. It plays a crucial role in food processing, blood cell production, and energy provision. Unearth the ways to identify signs of iron deficiency and harness the full potential of this essential nutrient.
What is Iron?
Iron is an essential mineral that creates energy and transports oxygen in your body. Ensuring sufficient iron levels is crucial for proper bodily functions and overall health. Iron supplements can be considered to combat deficiency-related side effects.
Benefits of Iron:
Iron benefits your health in vital ways including your energy levels. Ensuring you have the recommended dosage of iron can help to ensure you see these iron benefits and avoid health problems from low iron. The benefits of iron include:
- Encourages a healthy pregnancy. For this reason, iron may be included in pregnancy supplements
- Restores sleep. For this reason, iron may be included in sleep supplements
- Red blood cell production
- Normal oxygen transportation
- Reduces fatigue
- Supports focus
- Maintains stamina
- Encourages athletic performance
- Improves muscle endurance
- Reduces bruising
- Supports the immune system
All of these benefits of iron help to support your body and encourage a healthy lifestyle. Ensuring a proper dose of iron can help you see these iron benefits and avoid deficiency.
According to the NHS, the amount of iron you need is:
8.7mg a day for men over 18
14.8mg a day for women aged 19 to 50
8.7mg a day for women over 50
Signs of Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency can affect anyone whose mineral levels become too low. It can cause harmful side effects and means you don’t reap any iron benefits. People with malabsorption issues, are pregnant, or are athletes may be more at risk. Taking the required amount of iron can help you avoid these side effects and see iron benefits. There are signs to look out for if you are concerned about your levels.
Some signs of low iron include:
>Tiredness and Lack of Energy
>Craving non-food items
>Pale Skin
>Shortness of Breath
>Noticeable Heartbeats
Seek medical advice from your GP or other health professional if you think you may have any of these signs of low iron and before taking supplements.
Sources of Iron
As well as taking supplements, you can support your iron intake with natural sources of the mineral. Encouraging a balanced diet with sources of iron can help you experience the benefits of iron. Sources of iron include:
- Iron Supplements
- Dark-green leafy vegetables
- Fortified Cereals and Bread
- Meat
- Dried fruit like apricots, prunes and raisins
- Pulses (beans, peas and lentils)
- Seeds & Nuts
Reducing your intake of tea, coffee, milk and dairy, and high levels of phytic acid can also help you see the benefits of iron. This is because these products naturally reduce the amount of minerals your body can absorb. Including these foods, alongside supplements, can help you reap the benefits of iron and avoid a vitamin or mineral deficiency.
