Learn about Iron

Iron deficiency can take a toll on a woman’s body. Without an adequate level of iron, the body doesn’t get enough oxygen to the muscles, this is what leads to fatigue and low energy levels. Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the body’s stores of iron are depleted. Some symptoms of this condition include uneasiness, physical discomfort, sensitivity to cold and dizziness.

In addition to being female and losing about .6 milligrams of blood per month, exercise depletes the body’s iron stores as well. Exercise is to blame because iron is used in aerobic metabolism. The harder you train, the more iron you need in your diet and a supplement can help with that, this also goes for people who do not exercise but don’t get enough iron in their diets anyway.

Try and get your food source of iron from animal sources, this is called hemi iron. Some good vegetables for iron are broccoli and beans. Cooking them in a cast iron skillet will help kick up the iron content too. If you are not a big meat lover and prefer veggies, try and at least eat the meat and veggies together when you do have meat; iron in plant foods are better absorbed when eaten with meat. Foods high in vitamin C like oranges, tomatoes, and potatoes also help the body to absorb optimal amounts of iron.