Iron Supplements explained

Iron deficiencies is not a subject we hear a whole lot about. It is a common issue with the elderly because of the changes in the body as aging progresses.

But the truth is that we all need to keep our iron levels up to stay healthy. Iron is an important part of our overall health picture and it has a part to play in how our blood transports oxygen to the brain and to the body for the sake of our overall well being.

Like all vitamins and minerals, we look to diet to provide for most of the iron we need. Iron is present in meats and proteins we consume and our bodies find it very easy to absorb iron from proteins to use in the body. Irons that enter our systems in this way get used quickly.

We can get iron from vegetables as well, particularly leafy vegetables like spinach and lettuce but it takes longer for minerals absorbed this way to be useful to the body.

About 20% of the iron we need is stored by our body for future uses. If we don't keep a good iron supply in our diets, we can become anemic which leads to difficulty with concentration, fatigue and it lowers our resistance to disease.

If you suspect you are suffering with an iron deficiency, you can take supplements to your diet that will build your iron supply and replenish your body's iron reserves.

We cannot give you a set level of iron to achieve because it varies by  age and gender. Girls entering puberty and women going through menopause have much higher requirements for iron.

To know for sure what your iron requirements for your body at your phase in life will require that you consult with your doctor. This is a preferable course of action over just buying supplements and "guessing" how much iron to take.

As is the case with all vitamin or mineral requirements, you may be able to supplement you iron supply by simply improving your diet to make sure you are getting more iron through what you eat each day.

This is the safest course of action because if you take in more iron than needed through diet, it is eliminated naturally. Along with the iron sources we have mentioned, red wine taken in moderation can do a lot to increase the levels of iron in your system.

It is not uncommon to turn to supplements if you cannot get enough iron from diet. People with food allergies or other eating disorders commonly go this route because their diet is restricted so they cannot achieve sufficient iron levels naturally.

But in all cases, make sure you know the limits of how much of the supplement to take. It is possible to overdose on iron, which can result in a variety of unpleasant side effects including nausea and constipation.

So be safe and be sure and get your doctor's help to balance your iron supply so you get enough iron to stay healthy.