Throughout all stages of life, your body needs essential minerals to maintain its normal function. From vitamins, C and D right through to calcium and iron, every type of mineral have an important role to play.
Within this guide, we will be taking you through everything you need to know about iron, including how much iron your body needs.
What Does Iron Do For The Body?
As confirmed by the EFSA, iron is most commonly known for its contribution to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. However, it also delivers a whole range of other benefits. For example, this important mineral also contributes to the normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin. It is these red blood cells that contribute to the normal transport of oxygen throughout the body.
As well as supporting your energy levels, red blood cells and oxygen levels, iron also contributes to the normal function of the immune system. It’s safe to say that this mineral is a pretty big deal.
How Much Iron Do I Need?
With such an important part to play in the normal functioning of the body, it’s important to ensure that you are meeting your daily iron requirements. The NHS states that the daily intake for iron is as follows:
- 14.8mg a day for women aged 19 to 50
- 8.7mg a day for women over 50
- 8.7mg a day for men over 18
Please note that the above requirements are for UK use. If you are living outside of the UK, your daily requirements may be different. Always check your country’s safety regulations for full clarity.
How To Get Your Daily Amount Of Iron
It can be quite overwhelming to learn that your body requires a certain amount of a mineral each day to function normally. However, once you realise how easy it is to obtain these minerals, it soon becomes clear that all worries can be put to bed.
You should be able to get all of the iron you need from a well balanced diet. Foods high in iron include red meat, beans, nuts, dried fruit and fortified breakfast cereals. As you can see, these foods support all types of diets. Liver is also high in iron, however it is best to avoid this when pregnant.
If you feel that you aren’t getting enough iron through diet alone, you can also take iron tablets to safeguard your intake. Just ensure that these tablets compliment your daily allowance and do not contain anything that you are allergic to.
When To See A Doctor
If you feel that you are battling with low iron levels or would like further information regarding your iron intake, do not hesitate to contact your doctor. They will be able to run through everything you could possibly need to know about iron, including how the body reacts when it isn’t getting enough.
Iron is one of the many important minerals that your body needs – we hope this guide has helped you to realize its importance, as well as provide you with guidance on how to obtain it.
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