Do you take your daily vitamins?
While standard multivitamins can be helpful, some people need more of a boost than others in certain areas. If that’s the case for you, a multivitamin might not cut it.
Many people elect to take iron supplements, but not everyone needs one. Too much iron isn’t good for you, so how do you know if you need extra?
While you should always talk to a doctor before adding nutritional supplements into your diet, we’re here to talk about which people may want to try iron out. Keep reading to learn our health facts about who should consider taking iron supplements with the doctor’s approval.
Frequent Exercisers
If you partake in frequent and intense exercise, you may discover that your iron levels deplete more quickly than other people’s.
While this isn’t uncommon, it’s not an issue that many people talk about. Exercise is healthy, but if you overdo it and don’t have the right diet, supplementation might be necessary.
Pregnant People
Of all of these examples, all pregnant people should be the most diligent about speaking to a doctor before starting iron supplements. With that in mind, iron deficiency anemia is common for pregnant people.
The body produces more blood during pregnancy. If you don’t have enough iron, that blood won’t produce enough hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is what allows blood to carry oxygen through the rest of the body.
Anemia can also be a folate deficiency, so if you’re feeling symptoms of anemia while you’re pregnant, it’s crucial to see a doctor. Folate deficiency is dangerous during pregnancy.
Plant-Based Eaters
There are many valid iron sources in vegetarian meals, but anyone who’s a “junk food” vegan or vegetarian may struggle to get enough.
Dried beans, nuts, fruits, and seeds often have iron, as do leafy greens. A well-balanced vegan or vegetarian diet will have more than enough iron, but it takes more diligence than an omnivorous diet where sufficient iron comes from meat.
Feroglobin products, like the iron supplements by Vitabiotics, are suitable for plant-based eaters, so they’re great for supplementing an insufficient vegetarian diet.
People With Heavy Periods
If you’re someone who has heavy periods (often this is because of PCOS), you may want to talk to your doctor about starting iron supplements.
When so many red blood cells are lost during menstruation every month, your body may not be able to restore them. While fatigue and fogginess are common PMS symptoms, they’re also common symptoms of anemia.
If you’re worried that your general period pains might actually be the result of iron deficiency anemia, talk to your doctor about taking iron supplements.
Health Facts: Do You Need Iron?
Needing an iron supplement isn’t as common as some people think, but if you’re in one of the above categories and you experience frequent fatigue, it might be time to talk to your doctor.
Keep yourself safe and healthy by taking iron and keeping these health facts in mind.
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