Things that are good for you could also be bad for you, and what is good for everyone else might not necessarily be good for you. We all know that iron is a mineral the body needs, especially for bone health and strength.
Hence, you might have taken proactive steps to include foods rich in this mineral into your diet or even gone the extra mile to purchase iron supplements with codes from yoursherbs.com. However, it can be quite dangerous to do this without an active understanding of just how much of this mineral your body needs and how it works in general.
What Is Iron?
Iron is a mineral that is essential in the creation of a protein called hemoglobin. This protein is found in red blood cells, and it is what helps to carry oxygen around the body. It is also essential in creating another protein called myoglobin which is responsible for the carriage and storage of oxygen for the muscles. One can tell that this is a lot of responsibility as it is essential for brain development, growth, muscle health and growth, hormones, and also the immune system, so the body needs it frequently.
Symptoms Of Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency anemia is caused when the body does not get as much oxygen since there aren’t enough healthy red blood cells to facilitate that. At first, this deficiency can be very mild and even go unnoticed for a while. However, it gets really frustrating once the deficiency gets even worse and the body begins to crave this mineral intensely.
At this point, one will see signs like:
- Extreme tiredness
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Pale skin
- Poor appetite
- Inflammation
- Chest pain
How Much Iron Should You Take As Supplements?
The answer to this question varies depending on your iron levels. If your blood levels are low then it is most likely that your iron levels are also low, and the need to boost them with supplements comes in. Most times, these supplements come with recommendations, and the general one for people with an iron deficiency is about 100-200 mg of elemental iron daily. If you are just trying to increase your iron levels, you can also do a reduced dose, but higher doses of iron supplements are unadvisable, except if prescribed by experienced medical practitioners.
Can Iron Be Too Much?
Yes, iron can be too much, and it is inadvisable and dangerous to one’s health. The case would have been different if there was a way the body could easily take the amount of iron it needs and dispose of the excesses. However, this is impossible’ hence, it only leads to an overload of iron content in the body. This can lead to an iron overload disorder in many people, increasing cancer risks, liver problems, diabetes, and many more instead of reducing them. Moreover, excess iron intake can also cause iron toxicity, leading to several chronic disorders like iron poisoning.
Hence, if you already have a good iron level, you do not need to reduce or increase your iron intake or use iron supplements. However, people with low iron levels also need to be watchful of how much they consume daily and ensure they do not go above the recommendations.
Who Needs Iron Supplements More?
If you have adequate iron levels and eat enough foods with iron content, you do not necessarily need to take more supplements. However, if you have an iron deficiency or are trying to increase your iron levels to a healthy one, you should consider these supplements in addition to your meals.
These supplements might be for you if:
- You are pregnant
- You are an athlete
- You have a heavy menstrual period
- You have cancer
- You have a heart failure
- You donate blood
