Vitamin and health food stores worldwide both online and offline are awash with supplements of every kind. One of the predominant supplements in these stores is the iron supplement. You can find it as an individual supplement or combined with others to form an even more effective and advanced nutritional booster.
Certain health conditions such as anemia can make your health practitioner recommend supplementing your diet with iron. It is therefore important that you shouldn’t add your own supplement without a medical examination and approval.
The Role of Iron in the Body
Iron is such an essential mineral in maintaining the overall health of the body. It forms an integral part of hemoglobin molecules that are found at the very center of the red blood cells. It aids in the binding and transport of oxygen from the heart to the rest of the body.
Apart from oxygen transport, iron is required for protein formation, cell differentiation, and immune function. The daily recommended intakes of iron are set by the Institute of Medicine. On average men over the age of 50 require an intake of about 8 milligrams of iron daily.
On the other hand, women between the ages of 19 and 50 should get approximately 18 milligrams of iron per day. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should take the highest quantity of iron daily.
Iron Deficiency in Diet
Whenever you can, it is always advisable to get your nutrients from the normal diet you take. Dietary iron usually exists in two forms, nonheme iron, and heme iron.
Heme iron is derived from animal products while nonheme is from plants. Meat such as turkey, liver, beef, and tuna are excellent sources of iron. On the side of plants, vegetable foods like tofu, kidney beans, and lentils make a great source of protein.
However, if for some reason you cannot meet the nutritional requirements as outlined above, you can benefit immensely from an iron supplement. The other thing that is great with iron supplements such as Spatone iron is that they help in the absorption of iron in the body system.
Curing Anemia Through Iron Supplements
The most common disorder associated with iron deficiency is anemia. This condition arises when the red blood cell count in the body is below the threshold required. Most patients suffering from anemia feel fatigued, dizzy, weak and irritable.
Not all anemic conditions are caused by iron deficiency. However, most them do, in which case the only way to treat them is through iron supplementation. The supplements can be in the form of injections, oral capsules or even intravenous injection.
Apart from anemia, other conditions may also necessitate iron supplementation. For instance, people with renal failure Chron’s disease, celiac, and other gastrointestinal disorders can benefit from these supplements. Endurance athletes also need iron, especially when training in high altitude areas. This is mainly due to the need for hemoglobin to help bind the oxygen molecules for transportation.
Scientists have also found out that patients going through cancer treatments or those suffering from autoimmune disorders are best advised to supplement with iron.