Where Did All The Iron Go?: Iron Deficiency Anemia
Rather than the ore Iron, Iron is an essential part of our bodies that lives and can be found in red blood cells called hemoglobin (Hb). Iron is what helps grow our muscles, assists in bone marrow and organ function, along with making some hormones. Without it, we would be extremely fatigued, dizziness, and so much more simply because hemoglobin is the protein that carries oxygen from your lungs, to your tissues and organs.
Symptoms of Iron deficiency anemia:
● Extreme tiredness/fatigue
● Weakness.
● Muscle cramps
● Pica
● Pale skin.
● Chest pain
● Fast heartbeat or shortness of breath.
● Headache or being dizzy or lightheaded.
● Cold hands and feet.
● Irritation or soreness of the tongue.
● Brittle nails.
● Restless legs syndrome.
● Not wanting to eat, especially in infants and children.
● Odd smell cravings, such as for rubber, detergents or cleaning agents.
Science behind it:
Think of your body as a store and use food as the products. Usually, as your body digests food it stores the iron from the food for later, so that it may make hemoglobin in order to keep your body running. This store keeps extra inventory so that if they sell out, they can make sure that they will keep the store running by having stored products. Iron-deficiency anemia develops when your body sells out of these products, faster than they can receive them again. Or, in other words, before the iron can be replaced your body uses it all, faster than can be replenished, or when the flow of iron into your system is too slow.
Beginning with your red blood cells not being affected yet, although the iron stored is decreasing. Then, as soon as they are low, your body adjusts the process of the red blood cells and you have bone marrow with not enough hemoglobin. Finally, your hemoglobin drops below a healthy range and you may develop symptoms of iron deficiency anemia.
Iron deficiency anemia might happen because:
● Loss of blood due to hiatal hernia, a colon polyp, peptic ulcer, or colorectal cancer. Along with painkillers without a prescription, because they could be causing bleeding inside the body.
● Conditions such as celiac disease
● Pregnancy due to the higher blood volume, and that iron is a crucial source of hemoglobin for the unborn baby.
● Lack of iron in your diet
● Or simply genetics
How do I increase my iron intake?
First, you should contact a healthcare professional and look for the cause of your iron deficiency anemia.
● Taking iron supplements.
Iron-rich foods
● Animal proteins such as liver, eggs, beef, poultry, and seafood
(If you don’t eat meat, it’s crucial to eat more plant-based foods that are rich in iron)
● Breads, pastas, and cereals such as bran with wheat cereals, white enriched/whole wheat bread
● Dried fruits such as figs, dates, raisins
● Legumes like peas, beans, tofu and tempeh
● Vegetables
Along with iron, vitamin C assists your body in order to take more iron.
Foods that heighten your vitamin C are:
● Broccoli.
● Strawberries.
● Grapefruit.
● Kiwi.
● Leafy greens.
● Melons.
● Tomatoes.
● Oranges and orange juice.
● Peppers.
● Tangerines.
But what about my infant child?
To prevent iron deficiency anemia, you should allow your iron-fortified formula, or breast milk for the first year, not cow’s milk because it isn’t a good source of iron for infants. Breastfed children need iron supplements starting at 4 months.
In order to boost iron intake, after 6 months have passed, babies may eat cereals with added iron or pureed meats at least twice a day. Children no older than 1 year are not recommended to drink more than 24 fluid ounces (720 milliliters) of milk a day, due to the fact that too much milk will often take the place of other foods, including those that are rich in iron.
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