According to a National Institute of Health study – 10 million people have an iron deficiency.
Iron deficiencies show up in a multitude of ways, but mostly as extreme fatigue and weakness. Other ways that the iron deficiency shows up are in shortness of breath, headaches, or dizziness. Even cold hands and feet and brittle nails can be an indicator.
The deficiency is usually attributed to an absorption issue and not just a lack of the mineral.
So what to do? And how can you get more iron into your daily routine in a simple way?
The best way to absorb iron is to eat something with vitamin C along with the iron-rich food of your choice. For example, when consuming beans or lentils, consider adding tomatoes or bell peppers to the mix. This will enhance the efficient and effective absorption of iron from the beans.
Next, know what foods are iron-rich, especially if you aren’t a meat eater. I highly recommend foods such as beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, and dark leafy greens (like kale and spinach). Ensure to cook spinach to enhance iron absorption. Additionally, include squash, quinoa, oats, and a variety of other nutritious options in your diet.
Another simple tip: Cook from a cast-iron skillet once in a while to bring in more iron to your foods. Yes, the iron from the skillet will cook into your food. And the newer the skillet the more iron you’ll absorb. To keep the myth at bay regarding cleaning your skillet, yes, you can indeed use soap and water, but just wash and dry quickly so rust doesn’t form. You may even want to put it on top of the stove or put it in the oven to allow the heat to dry it in addition to towel drying.
You need iron to function at your best. If you are feeling tired and weak then take a look at your iron consumption and adjust accordingly.
