If you’ve noticed your skin paling and your energy levels dropping, the lack of sunlight might not be the only culprit; iron deficiency anemia may be to blame. The most common form of anemia, it can be caused by a vegetarian or low-meat diet, heavy menstruation, pregnancy, or extreme dieting. While there are other, more serious causes, these are largely to blame. Iron stores in the body can be measured through hemoglobin levels, as hemoglobin stores 70-80% of the body’s iron. If you suspect an iron deficiency, and have been experiencing symptoms such as paler-than-normal skin, weakness, fatigue, headaches, and easy bruising, check with your doctor to see if your iron levels may be to blame before taking action. If your iron levels are indeed the cause, there are options—and things you should know—before turning to an iron supplement.
Your body absorbs iron better from food than from a pill, so first try incorporating foods such as spinach and other dark, leafy greens, red meats, egg yolks, various beans, and iron-fortified cereals.If adding these foods to your diet doesn’t do the trick, here are some things you should know about oral iron supplementation:
- Look for iron supplements that contain ferrous sulfate, as opposed to those containing ferrous gluconate. Ferrous sulfate contains more iron
- Food, caffeine, and antacids can reduce iron absorption, so take iron pills on an empty stomach
- Drink it with a cup of OJ—vitamin C has been proven to enhance iron absorption
- Stomach upset side effects are common, but these effects are likely to go away over time. To avoid an upset stomach, take the iron pills in small doses throughout the day and take them at the same time each day
- Iron can be toxic in high doses, so be sure to adhere to the correct dosage
- Due to toxicity, keep iron pills away from small children
If your doctor diagnoses you with an iron deficiency, don’t fret – follow these effective, simple rules for taking iron supplementation and you will be feeling great in no time!
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