Iron deficiency is a common health concern across the United States and impacts your body’s ability to produce enough hemoglobin for red blood cells to carry oxygen.
The condition, known as iron deficiency anemia, can cause problematic symptoms even before a person has full-blown anemia.
Iron Deficiency Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Restless leg syndrome
- Dizziness
- Brittle or grooved nails
- Pale skin
- Irritability
- Cravings to eat sand, dirt, or brick
Iron is generally consumed through a proper, well-balanced diet. Many breakfast cereals are fortified with iron to provide a source for vegetarians and vegans since animal products contain the highest amount of iron that can be easily absorbed by the body. However, there are several non-meat options that are excellent sources of iron as well.
Iron Rich Foods:
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Eggs
- Organ meats such as liver
- Seafood, especially oysters and clams
- Lean red meat
- Chicken
- Lentils
- Beans
- Tofu
- Dried fruits
- Spinach
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Seaweed
- Watercress
- Asparagus
- Quinoa
Iron is a crucial mineral for human health and overall wellness, which makes it important for you to consider incorporating some of the above foods into your diet.
What Decreases Iron Absorption?
Sometimes our bodies can have difficulty absorbing iron, no matter how much effort we put into changing our diets and eating the correct foods. Medical conditions such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis makes it harder for your intestines to absorb iron.
Surgical procedures and certain medications can also negatively affect the ability for your body to absorb iron—primarily gastric bypass surgery and colectomy. Medicines used to lower stomach acid and other factors which cause a disruption to your gastrointestinal health can impact your body’s ability to absorb iron.
At the same time, calcium is the only known substance to inhibit the body’s absorption of iron. However, it is still very important to incorporate into your diet since it is an essential mineral and helps with stronger bones.
How to Increase Iron Absorption?
A proper diet with food high in iron is the first and most important step to increase your iron levels. Yet there are ways to help your body increase its iron intake from your diet. One of the most effective methods to boost iron absorption is by consuming more Vitamin C.
Research shows that Vitamin C enhances iron absorption from food and stores it in a different form that can be used more efficiently by the body. A Vitamin C Infusion is the optimal way to boost your levels of Vitamin C since it provides 100% bioavailability—the amount of nutrients absorbed by the body.
In addition to increased iron absorption, your body will reap the benefits of improved immune system health, faster tissue repair, and increased collagen formation.
Can you get too much iron?
As with almost anything in life, there can be too much of a good thing. As the body uses iron to help red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of the body, it stores any unused iron for future use. Iron overload occurs when too much iron accumulates in the body.
Iron Overload Symptoms:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Upset stomach
- Abdominal pain
- Fainting
- Dizziness
While some people have difficulty absorbing enough iron, others have a genetic condition known as hemochromatosis which causes the body to absorb more iron than usual. People with hemochromatosis should avoid taking iron and vitamin C supplements. If you are unsure about your iron levels, Nova Vita Wellness Centers offers a Whole Body Lab Panel which tests for Serum Iron and Total Iron Binding Capacity.
It is always important to talk to your doctor before changing your diet or incorporating new supplements and vitamin infusions into your lifestyle.
