Are you having some health challenges or health concerns that affect your daily quality of life: aches and pains, lack of energy, sleepless nights, swelling of joints, neck and shoulder pain, stress or fatigue, or back and hip pain? Would you like to know if natural supplements might help improve some of your symptoms?
We continue our series of Nutrition Alerts – and taking a closer look at specific nutrients, problems you may have if you are lacking the nutrient, and the overall benefits to your body when you get enough of each. You can use the ‘Search this Site’ tab on the right (or at bottom if you are on mobile) and search for ‘Nutrition Alerts’ to read about other nutrients.
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Today we look iron. If you are lacking iron, either you are not getting enough in your food, your body is not absorbing enough through your food, or is not absorbing enough iron through a present supplement you are taking.
Every cell in your body needs iron to produce energy. If your body doesn’t get enough iron, or can’t absorb adequate amounts, you may become deficient in iron – resulting in iron deficiency anemia. The Mayo Clinic shares more info on Iron Deficiency.
Iron Builds Healthy Red Blood Cells
Iron plays a critical role in formation of your hemaglobin and promotes healthy red blood cell formation. It is important for energy in your cells, including muscle cells. You can think of it as ‘Popeye’s spinach‘!
Iron carries oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body. If you are deficient in iron, you may be experiencing some of the health challenges listed under these Nutrition Alerts.
Nutrition Alert: Is Your Body Lacking Iron?
Symptoms of Iron Deficiency
- Anemia & paleness
- Cold hands and feet
- Extreme fatigue
- Dizziness
- Blue or brittle fingernails
- Heart palpitations
Benefits of Iron Supplements
- Builds red blood cells
- Improves respiratory function
- Improves brain activity
- Reduces risk of gastric cancer
- Maternal iron affects IQ and coordination of child
If you are not getting enough iron in your foods, or if your doctor recommends you need more iron that you can’t get through your daily diet, you may need to consider an iron supplement.
One concern I hear about a lot in regard to an iron supplement is the chance it will cause constipation. An issue like this is where it is important that a supplement be formulated so that it does not have that side effect, and that it is not upsetting as well. Ferrous fumarate is the most absorbable form of iron available. Also, when you combine Vitamin C with iron in supplement form, it improves how the iron is utilized by your body.
To learn more about an organic, vegetarian sourced iron supplement that is also non-constipating and non-upsetting, and does not affect Vitamin E levels, visit: Lacking iron.
The natural nutrition brand we recommend here on the blog are products we have personally used for the past 43+ years. We are not medical professionals. We are on a personal health journey to live younger, energized and healthy longer.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.