You might have experienced this without knowing it was all about iron.

It happened to me. I didn't realise I was anaemic until I started to faint, for seemingly no reason.

Iron is an essential mineral our body needs to work properly.

Our body needs iron to make haemoglobin, a protein our red blood cells use that carries oxygen around our body. Iron is also used to make myoglobin, a protein that stores oxygen in our muscles.

What is Iron Deficiency Anaemia?

When your body’s iron stores are low, it can lead to iron deficiency anaemia. This is when your red blood cells don’t have enough haemoglobin to deliver oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

Signs of iron deficiency anaemia:

• Extreme fatigue

• Weakness

• Trouble concentrating

• Memory issues

• Shortness of breath

• Heart palpitations

• Frequent infections

• Exercise

• Pale skin

• Brittle nails

• Hair loss

• Headaches

The amount of iron you need daily depends on your sex and whether you’re menstruating, pregnant, or breastfeeding:

Common causes of iron deficiency anaemia include heavy periods, pregnancy, stomach ulcers, stomach bleeding due to NSAID overuse, and celiac disease.

To up your iron levels, you’ll want to eat more iron-rich foods. Luckily, iron is found in a variety of foods. It comes in two forms:

Heme iron is more easily absorbed than non-heme iron. But heme iron also helps your body absorb non-heme iron better.

Combining heme iron and non-heme iron at meals can boost your body’s overall iron absorption.

Pair With Vitamin C for a Boost

Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron. Adding vitamin C-rich foods to iron-heavy meals can improve its absorption. Foods high in vitamin C include:

Broccoli, Citrus fruits, Bell peppers, Tomatoes, Cauliflower, Strawberries, Brussel sprouts, Pineapple, Kale

If you have severe iron deficiency anaemia, you may need to take iron supplements. If this is the case for you, it’s important to work with your doctor to find the right dose. Taking too much iron can pose problems.

Tips For Taking Iron Supplements

Take iron with orange juice. Remember, vitamin C boosts iron absorption. Having a bit of OJ with your iron supplements can help you absorb it better.

Take away from calcium supplements. As mentioned, calcium can hinder iron absorption. So if you take calcium and iron supplements, take them at different times.

Drink a lot of water. Constipation is a common side effect of iron supplements. Be sure to drink plenty of water to keep your bowels moving.

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