Iron Deficencies

Iron is the pick this week. Iron levels are often low in women who are child bearing age. For these women, iron is the second most common deficiency, following behind B6. Children and adolescents are also prone to iron deficiency.

Iron helps transport oxygen in the blood and in the muscle. Iron is also vital for some important enzymes to function. Low iron levels, it is one of the most common reasons we suffer from low energy levels.

The problem is it can be dangerous to just grab a pill to fix low iron because iron can be hard to eliminate from the body if you take too much. This can cause iron overload. So we must be careful when using an iron pill supplement. Because iron can cause a toxicity, you should consult a doctor and have your blood work read to determine if an iron supplement is for right for you.

I have described in previous blog that when we consume nutrients from actual food sources we receive a symphony of nutrition. It turns out vitamin C helps us absorb iron. There are also different forms of iron and it is thought the type of iron found in meat is more easily absorbed than when found in plant sources.

To help insure I get iron, I add spinach in my eggs, kale and spirulina in my smoothies, bok choy in my stir-fry, and lentils in my soup.

Animal sources of iron: beef, pork, eggs, shrimp, oysters, and chicken

Plant sources of iron: spirulina, lentils, quinoa, sweet potato, beans, green beans, kale, spinach, whole wheat bread, dates, prunes, artichoke, peas, bok choy, parsley, strawberries, many dried fruits, nuts and seeds, cacao, tomato paste, and soy

A more complete list of iron sources:

http://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/health-and-wellness/iron-rich-foods/