Had a blood test and have low iron or anemic? Now what to do?
/Why iron is so important for your health and low iron needs to be addressed.
Have you been to the gp and had your iron levels tested and your iron is on the lower side or low? Why is iron essential to our health and what is the best way to increase your iron stores.
First of all, if you have been to the doctor and been told that your iron is low and to take a supplement in particular ferrograd c. This is not the best supplement to take and I will explain why. But first, let me explain why iron is so important to your health.
Low iron has been linked to headaches, fatigue, heavy periods, sleep disturbance including that wired but tired feeling, thinning of hair, pale complexion, anxiety, and depression.
Iron is a tricky little mineral in terms of supplementation, first of all, high amounts of iron in a supplement is actually poorly absorbed, smaller doses of iron is better. The form of iron is really important, I recommend iron bis-glycinate. This form is the most bioavailable form which means for the body it’s absorbed easily.
You should alternate your days of taking the iron supplement, one day take the supplement the next day don’t. Studies show that this way is ideal for iron absorption.
You should not take iron near caffeine including coffee and green tea as this inhibits iron absorption by 98%, take your iron at night if you drink caffeine.
Do not take iron if you have a viral or bacterial infection as these microbes will feed off the iron.
When you consume iron in your diet there are two forms. Heme iron is in meat sources for example, lamb and beef. There is also non-heme iron which is in vegetables, seeds, legumes, and whole grains.
Non-heme iron is found in plant bases foods which do, require vitamin c for optimal absorption, for example, add lemon juice to a salad to increase iron absorption.
Take within 30 mins of working out.
With a meat based meal