Research shows that as many as 80 percent of people in the world do not have enough iron in their bodies. There are many causes of iron deficiency, including poor diet, internal bleeding, and inflammatory bowel disease. Whatever the cause, iron deficiency can result in unpleasant symptoms that can affect your quality of life.
Symptoms
Initially, symptoms of low iron can go undetected. Over time you’ll begin to notice: extreme fatigue, pale skin, headaches, dizziness, weakness, cold extremities and poor appetite.
Without sufficient iron, your body will not produce enough of a substance in red blood cells to enable them to carry oxygen to your lungs and body. As a result, you’re left feeling exhausted and short of breath.
Diet
You can be vigilant about your diet and add in foods that not only add iron to your system, but also foods that help you body absorb that iron. Foods rich in iron include red meats, fish, beans and varieties of dark greens.
The recommended iron intake is 7-18 mg per day for the general population and up to 27 grams for pregnant women. Foods rich in vitamin C have also been shown to enhance our body’s absorption of iron. Make sure you incorporate plenty of fruits and veggies rich in vitamin C, broccoli, red and green peppers and of course, oranges. Also, try avoiding foods that make it harder to absorb iron, which sadly includes coffee, tea, milk, egg whites, and soy proteins. These food can drastically inhibit our iron consumption.
Supplements
If you struggle to get enough iron via your diet or you’re concerned about your body’s ability to absorb iron, a supplement can help. Our multi-vitamin patch contains twenty-seven vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that will help your body absorb proper nutrients to fight iron deficiency.