iron deficiency

Sources of Iron
healthy living

What Does Your RDI Look Like: Iron

Back in my vegetarian phase during college, my mom always said, "If you don't eat beef, you won't get enough iron."
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Back in my vegetarian phase during college, my mom always said, "If you don't eat beef, you won't get enough iron." While it is a great source of this valuable mineral, red meat is not the only meat that contains iron. Chicken, turkey, and seafood such as oysters, tuna, and salmon are also high in iron. When it comes to vegetarian sources, beans, leafy greens, nuts, egg yolks, potatoes with the skin, and dried fruits can help you reach your recommended daily intake (RDI). The human body needs iron to make hemoglobin, which helps carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body, and an adult woman should get 18 milligrams of iron daily. Check out the chart below to make sure you're meeting the RDI of iron.


Food Amount Amount of Iron (mg)
Fortified cereal 1 oz 4.5-7
Dried apricot 1/4 cup 1.5
Raisins 1/4 cup 1.1
Molasses 1 tbsp 3.3
Garbanzo beans 1/2 cup, cooked 3.4
Pinto beans 1/2 cup 2.2

Continue reading to see what other foods contain iron and signs of iron deficiency.

Symptoms and Prevention of Iron Deficiency
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Are You at Risk For Iron Deficiency?

When I was a vegetarian in college, aside from not getting enough protein, my mother was always worried that I wasn't getting enough iron.
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When I was a vegetarian in college, aside from not getting enough protein, my mother was always worried that I wasn't getting enough iron. While being vegetarian doesn't automatically mean you have an iron deficiency (also referred to as anemia), it definitely puts a person at risk. Women in general are also more at risk for iron deficiency because they tend to diet more than men, and may not get enough iron from the foods they eat. Women also lose blood every month (if they're not on birth control that stops their period), and heavy periods are especially a risk factor. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can also lead to iron deficiency.

For women over 18, the RDI of iron is 18 milligrams, and eating a diet rich in iron is one way to prevent anemia. The best food sources are red meat, seafood such as salmon, oysters, and tuna, chicken, egg yolks, oats, beans, soy products, leafy greens, dried fruit, and cereals fortified with iron.

How will you know if you're not getting enough iron? Oh you'll know. Symptoms include extreme fatigue, pale complexion, weakness, shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness, cold hands and feet, irritability, sore tongue, brittle nails, and a weird craving for non-foods such as dirt or ice. If you're experiencing these symptoms, talk to your doctor. They'll help figure out what's causing your deficiency, and be able to recommend ways to get your iron levels back up to par.

Have any of you every suffered from an iron deficiency?

The Connection Between: Beets, Red Urine, and Iron
healthy living

The Connection Between: Beets, Red Urine, and Iron

Have you ever gone to the ladies room and were alarmed at what you saw?
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Have you ever gone to the ladies room and were alarmed at what you saw? Red urine?! No reason to panic just yet. Think back to what you ate recently. Was there anything red? Yep, the beets are the culprit. I know it sounds weird but it's completely normal for some people to eat this veggie and notice a reddish color when they go to the bathroom. Ten to 14 percent of the population experience this genetic phenomenon known as Beeturia, but it can also occur if you eat a lot of other oxalic acid containing foods such as spinach, rhubarb, or chocolate along with your beets. If that's the case, then red urine is harmless, but it can also be a warning sign that you have an iron deficiency. If you're not getting enough iron, you may notice other symptoms such as feeling tired all the time, having a hard time concentrating, or pale skin and gums. A simple test at your doctor's office can help figure out if your iron levels are low. Once you start adding more iron into your diet, you'll have an increase in energy and the next time you eat beets, you won't have the scarlet effects.

Chronic Cough? Could Be Low Iron
anemia

Chronic Cough? Could Be Low Iron

Having a chronic cough can be really annoying.
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Having a chronic cough can be really annoying. The pesky throat scratching kind of cough that lingers even though you don't smoke, or have asthma or throat irritating acid reflux. Well a new study has found that having a low iron count could create a persistent cough.

Iron deficiencies and anemia can cause swelling in the back of the mouth and creating sensitive vocal cords. The heightened sensitivity, along with inflamed mucous membranes, can easily cause coughing and choking from such simple acts a vigorous laughter.

Women are more prone to iron deficiencies than our male counterparts because we menstruate monthly, which taxes our iron reserves, as does pregnancy. Taking an iron supplement can certainly help calm coughs by reducing the inflammation. Having low iron can affect your immune system since iron plays a role in the production of proteins the immune system uses to control inflammation. And that inflammation can make you more susceptible to getting sick and to coughing. It is a vicious cycle. So make sure you are getting enough iron so check out: What Your RDI of Iron Looks Like.

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Anemia: Know the Signs
red meat

Anemia: Know the Signs

We all get "bone" tired every now and again, but have you ever been "blood" tired?
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We all get "bone" tired every now and again, but have you ever been "blood" tired? Tired blood is an expression used to explain anemia — a condition in which there isn't enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues — can make you feel tired. Women are more prone to suffer from anemia from men due to menstruation, pregnancy and breastfeeding.

While there are many types of anemia, iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of the problem in the U.S. affecting 1 in 5 women. Being deficient in folate and vitamin B12 can also interfere with the production of red blood cells and create anemia.

Fatigue is the primary symptom along with pale skin, irregular heartbeat and shortness of breath. If you think you might be anemic check the insides of your lower eyelids - they should be a healthy pink. If they are not, try upping your intake of iron or you can ask your doctor to give you a blood test.

Simple ways to combat anemia are eating foods rich in iron, like: red meat, fish, chicken, green leafy veggies, dried fruits (like apricots, prunes, and raisins) and lentils or beans. Up your iron intake by cooking tomato based sauces in a cast iron skillet, since acidic foods absorb the mineral from the pan. You can always try an iron supplement; just make sure it bears the United States Pharmacopeia Seal (USP).

Fit's Tip: Veteran mid-distance runner Ceci St. Geme had her last kid over 8 years ago and she still takes pre-natal vitamins because they contain iron. So keep your friends and loved ones guessing and start taking prenatal vitamins if you tend towards anemia.

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