What Iron Can Do For Your Health?

It is important and necessary for sustaining life and for the production of hemoglobin (red blood cells) and some enzymes. Only about 8 percent of the total iron taken is absorbed and enters your bloodstream. An average person weighing about seventy kilograms has about 4g of iron in their body. Hemoglobin, which is most prescribed to iron, is processed and reused since blood cells are replaced every 120 days. Iron bound to protein (ferritin) is deposited in the body, as well as tissue iron (present in myoglobin) in very small amounts.

According to the National Research Council, the recommended daily requirement is 10 to 18 mg for adults and 30 to 60 mg for pregnant and lactating women. In one month, women lose almost twice as much iron as men. Copper, Cobalt, Manganese, and vitamin C are necessary to assimilate iron. Iron is necessary for the proper metabolism of B vitamins.

The health benefits of iron

• supports growth.
• contributes to resistance to diseases.
• prevents fatigue.
• heals and prevents anemia caused by iron deficiency.
• restores a good tan to the skin.

Diseases caused by iron deficiency

• Anemia caused by iron deficiency

The best natural sources of iron

Pork liver, dried peaches, red meat (beef, veal, lamb, and pork), egg yolks, oysters, stone fruits, beans some vegetables such as spinach, beets, asparagus, and oatmeal.

Toxicity

Rare in healthy normal persons. Excessive doses, however, can be dangerous for children. Iron should not be taken by those suffering from sickle cell anemia, hemochromatosis, or thalassemia.

Enemies

Phosphoproteins in eggs and phytates in unleavened wheat flour reduce the utilization of iron in the body.

Personal Advice

For women, the supplement of chelated or hemoglobin iron is recommended. Check the label on your multivitamin or multimineral preparation see what you are already taking, and guide yourself accordingly. (remember, if the iron in your preparations is ferrosulfate, you lose vitamin E).

Keep iron preparations out of the reach of children. Those who drink a lot of coffee as well as tea should be aware that if they take large amounts of one of these drinks, they most likely cause problems with iron absorption. If you are pregnant, check with your doctor before taking iron or iron-fortified vitamin supplements. (mothers who took too many iron pills during pregnancy have been diagnosed with iron poisoning of their children)