Causes and Treatment for Iron Deficiency

Iron is an essential mineral for our body. It is important for the red blood cells production and carrying the oxygen throughout the organism. At the same time, it helps our muscles use and store the oxygen. Numerous enzymes contain iron and, as a result, it improves the cell functions and facilitates digestion. So, as you can see, iron is extremely important for your body and adults should get between 7 and 10 mg of the mineral per day.

Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency anemia, simply known as anemia is a common nutritional deficiency that often occurs in pre-menopausal women and children. The symptoms for this condition are the depletion of the body and its inability to maintain the normal hemoglobin levels. Some of the main causes for the iron deficiency are the loss of blood, the mal-absorption of iron and the lack of iron in the diet. Therefore, this condition usually occurs in frequent blood donors, vegetarians, children, infants and women.

Some of the most common symptoms associated with iron deficiency are: weakness, poor appetite, tiredness, dizziness, short attention span, headaches, fussy behavior, shortness of breath, inflamed tongue, pale skin, weak immunity, chest pain, coldness in feet and hands, difficulty in concentrating.

Diseases Caused by Iron Deficiency

1. Anemia

We’ve already mentioned this condition that affects the entire body by not enabling the oxygen to get to the blood cells. Anemia is characterized by fatigue, dizziness, breathlessness and pale skin. It can lead to impaired cognition and growth and reduced immune function.

2. Colon Cancer

This awful disease can be caused by iron deficiency. A recent research has shown that 19,349 of 628,882 patients suffered from iron deficiency anemia and that caused the colon cancer.

3. Growth Problems

If the iron deficiency is severe, then there can be a delay in the development and growth of children and infants. This problem can also lead to frequent infections.

4. Heart Diseases

Iron deficiency can be the cause for irregular or rapid heartbeat. Because of the lack of oxygen, the heart will pump more blood, leading to heart failure or enlarged heart.

5. Pregnancy Complications

The deficiency of iron is often a problem for pregnant women. It can be the cause for low birth-weight for the babies or premature births.

Treatment

Iron deficiency can become an extremely serious and severe problem, therefore it should not be ignored. Here are some treatments that will help you get rid of this condition.

Iron Rich Foods

The first thing you should do is to increase your consumption of foods rich in iron. Eat eggs, poultry, meat and liver. Also, try consuming vegetables like spinach, soybeans, lentils, falafel, spirulina or toasted sesame seeds.

Vitamin C

The consumption of vitamin C is also important when dealing with iron deficiency. Consume lemons, oranges, grapefruits etc. or drink citrus juice. Vitamin C will increase the iron absorption and will also keep you away from infections.

Iron Supplements

Take iron capsules or tablets to increase your daily requirement of iron. Take these supplements on an empty stomach to allow a better absorption.