Iron deficiency is the most common deficiency. Iron is needed to transport oxygen through the blood and throughout the body. Iron is also involved in producing energy at the cellular level to help make DNA, hemoglobin, myoglobin and neural globin. Iron also plays a role in the creation of the T cells crucial in the functioning of the immune system.
Common symptoms of iron deficiency are fatigue, heavy menstrual cycles in women, anemia, increased heart rate, rapid breathing and restless leg syndrome, to name a few. Iron deficiency is also associated with the attention deficit disorder and poor memory.
As people get old, their iron needs vary. Pregnant women need about 27 mg of iron every day compared to an average of 8 mg for a normal adult. Getting the right amount of iron from the right source is the key.
Vegetables like spinach, legumes, and beans are iron-rich. Iron from animal sources is absorbed better and faster by the body. Vitamin A and copper zinc are among the essential minerals that aid in the absorption of iron.
Dr. Eric Berg
08/31/2023
