Iron Man (And Woman)
Greetings!
The next mineral in our series is one we all know well…. Iron.
We all remember Popeye downing his iron rich spinach to save the fair Olive Oyl.
Iron, while present in spinach, is found in even greater amounts in a host of other foods.
Beef, pork, poultry, eggs and even nuts have an abundance of iron.
Iron is responsible for the oxygen carrying heme in our red blood cells. Iron Deficiency Anemia is the lack of adequate heme carrying red blood cells, and can lead to a host of problems.
Chief among them are fatigue, paleness, coldness, headaches, dry skin and dizziness. A simple blood test can confirm your status.
Those at risk for iron deficiency include:
Vegans (due to their dietary restrictions), those with intestinal bleeding, people on chemotherapeutic agents, dialysis patients, menstruating women, and those on a host of medications including the very popular ACE inhibitors for hypertension.
Be wary, as too much iron can be a problem as well. Never supplement without a clear reason and consultation with your Doctor.
If supplementation is warranted, try taking iron with citrus juice as this aids in absorption. Although it does absorb better on an empty stomach, iron pills are famous for causing stomach cramps and nausea if taken alone.
As always, we prefer to get all our nutrients naturally, and here getting enough Iron is a cinch. A non-vegetarian diet with some extra pistachio nuts will go a long way toward optimum iron intake.
Or, you can follow Popeye’s advice and eat your spinach.
Yours In Health,
Your Friends at NeuraVite