If you’re here then you’ve probably Google’d about: what does iron vitamins do for the body.
Why Do You Need Iron?
Iron is an important component of hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to transport it throughout your body. Without healthy red blood cells, your body can’t get enough oxygen. That exhaustion can affect everything from your brain function to your immune system’s ability to fight off infections.
If you’re pregnant, severe iron deficiency may increase your baby’s risk of being born too early, or smaller than normal.
Recommended Intake
Vegetarians also have different iron requirements.
Contents
F iron can lead to iron deficiency anaemia .
Iron is important in making red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body.
Freshly Picked
Ral, and its main purpose is to carry oxygen in the hemoglobin of red blood cells throughout the body so cells can produce energy. Iron also helps remove carbon dioxide.
When the body’s iron stores become so low that not enough normal red blood cells can be made to carry oxygen efficiently, a condition known as iron deficiency anemia develops. When levels of iron are low, fatigue, weakness and difficulty maintaining body temperature often result. Other symptoms may include:
Pale skin and fingernails
Dizziness
Headache
Glossitis (inflamed tongue)
Even though iron is widely available in food, some people, like adolescent girls and women ages 19 to 50 years old may not get the amount they need on a daily basis.
It is also a concern for young children and women who are pregnant or capable of becoming pregnant. Babies need iron for brain development and growth. They store enough iron for the first four to six months of life.
A supplement may be recommended by a pediatrician for a baby that is premature or a low-birth weight and breastfed. Most infant formulas are fortified with iron. Animal foods such as meat, seafood and poultry provide both types and are better absorbed by the body.
To increase the absorption of iron from plant sources, it’s recommended to eat them with meat, seafood, or poultry or a good source of vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, kiwi, strawberries or bell peppers.