It’s highly likely that you’ve heard of iron and that you know you need to have it in your diet. Perhaps you’ve even discussed your iron levels with a doctor or in casual conversation with a friend because you’re feeling low on energy, and you’ve heard that iron is required to help with this issue.
What you might not know, however, is all the other things iron can do for you. With that in mind, read on for some information about why you need more iron in your diet and where to get it.
What Is Iron?
Iron is a mineral that occurs naturally, and it can be found in a variety of food. It can also be taken in the form is supplements, which is useful if you feel you’re not getting enough iron through your diet. But before you buy an iron supplement, check out this review from The Nutrition Insider to make an informed decision.
Iron is part of your red blood cells (hemoglobin), ensuring that oxygen can be transported away from the lungs and into the rest of the body. Not only that, but iron supports a healthy metabolism, good brain function, and strong muscles.
Iron Deficiency Symptoms
Ideally, you’ll get enough iron in your diet to ensure you don’t suffer from iron deficiency. Still, there are some crucial symptoms to look out for because it is easy to fall below your recommended iron intake if you’re not thinking about it. Once you know what the symptoms of iron deficiency – also known as anemia – you can ensure you take steps to improve your diet or add supplements if that is a better option for you (or both). Some of the symptoms of iron deficiency include:
- Exhaustion
- Feeling cold (when it is not cold)
- Being short of breath
- Feeling dizzy
- Hair loss (some people choose to buy Finasteride tablets at chemistclick.co.uk to combat this)
- Headaches
- Feeling irritable
- Brittle nails
- Having a sore or swollen tongue
If you have any or all of these symptoms, the best thing to do is to see your doctor. They can take blood and test it for iron to determine whether this is the cause.
Iron-Rich Food
The easiest way to ensure you have enough iron in your body is to make sure you eat plenty of iron-rich food. The first thing that might spring to mind when you think of something along these lines could be
liver, known for having high iron levels. However, don’t worry; there are many other options if you’re not keen on offal. Some of them include:
- Oysters
- Dark chocolate
- Fortified cereals
- Sardines
- Chickpeas
- White beans
- Tofu
- Lentils
- Spinach
- Potatoes
As you can see, adding more iron into your diet should be easy, no matter what kind of food you generally enjoy.
What Are The Benefits Of More Iron In Your Diet?
The most obvious and well-known reason for adding more iron to your diet is that it will increase your energy levels. However, there are other benefits. For one thing, having enough iron in your diet will offer better muscle endurance so that you can work out longer and harder. It’s also good for pregnant women, as it will increase the function of the red blood cells, ensuring both fetus and mother get enough oxygen. Perhaps most surprising of all, a good iron intake will promote better brain health, making it easier to concentrate.
