Iron Deficiency
An Iron Deficiency is one of the most common known forms of nutritional deficiencies.
The dictionary describes iron as a component of hemoglobin which allows
red blood cells to carry oxygen and carbon dioxide through the body.
As one gets older it is believed that even a slight deficit in iron my
slow down thinking and impair the memory, so keep the memory and
brainpower going by ensuring you are getting enough iron in your diet.
Why we need Iron.
- The direct consequence of a deficiency in iron is anemia.
- Anemia occurs when your blood doesn't have enough haemoglobin.
- Haemoglobin is the protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.
- Iron is required for your body to make haemoglobin, so a lack of iron can result in iron deficiency anemia (ID).
What are the symptoms of a lack of Iron in the Body?
- Paleness or bad pallor
- Headaches
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Abnormal tiredness or fatigue
- Brittle nails
- Strange food cravings
- Breathlessness
- Coldness of the extremities
- Depression
- Dizziness
Anemia's
symptoms can easily go unrecognized. The first signs of developing
anemia could be a loss of appetite, constipation, headaches,
irritability and difficulty in concentrating.
Shortage of Iron and Anemia
Eating certain foods can help prevent anemia.
Iron absorption can be inhibited by caffeine and tannin, so avoid washing your food down with tea or coffee. Rather drink liquids containing Vitamin C as this promotes iron absorption.
Premenopausal women do often not get
enough of this mineral due to menstruation and can end up anemic and
suffer from the fatigue that goes hand in hand with anemia.
Iron in oysters, clams, beef, chicken, turkey and liver is easy for the body to absorb, so always ensure that these are included in your diet.
BRITTLE NAILS
Nails, like every part of our bodies require nutrients. Because our nails are not vital organs, and because our body prioritizes its nutrient distribution, the nails are one of the first areas to suffer from nutritional deficiencies.
Increasing iron intake will not only improve general health but also the condition of our nails.
Eat plenty of brussel sprouts, lentils, green peas, red kidney beans, spinach and dried fruit.
Venison, one of the healthiest meats in terms of fat content, also has a reasonably good supply of this necessary mineral.
INSUFFICIENT IRON LEVELS DUE TO TAPEWORMS OR THREADWORMS
Worms live in the intestines, stealing nutrients before they can be utilized by the body.
Infestations can cause nutritional imbalances.
There are natural home remedies for worms which can be looked at to try and help get rid of worms acquired by eating contaminated foods.
Dried apricots are an impressive source of non-meat iron.
Trout caught in fish farms, rather than polluted rivers can also be eaten for their iron nutrients.
RESTLESS LEGS AND IRON DEFICIENCY
The belief is that one of the most likely causes for restless legs, especially in women, is an iron deficiency.
There are however, other possible reasons for this and home remedies for restless legs
looks at natural means to try and alleviate the uncomfortable
creepy-crawly-twitchy feelings in the legs associated with this ailment.
There is no substitute for good eating habits, but where requirements for specific nutrients are not met by diet alone, i.e pregnant woman and vegans, vitamin or mineral supplements are often recommended.
They should always be taken in conjunction with the approval of a doctor or a dietician.
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