IRON
Iron is a micronutrient, which is an essential nutrient required in trace amount by the body for proper growth, good metabolism and development. Iron in comparison to most other micronutrients is required in larger amounts. If the human body does not get the appropriate quantity of iron that it requires, it will result in serious health problems. Micronutrients are composed of two categories; vitamins (ex. Vitamin C, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin A etc.) and minerals (ex. calcium, sodium, iron. etc.). Iron is a mineral with the chemical compound Fe. A mineral is an inorganic substance that occurs naturally within the ground and in rocks.
Iron is necessary for providing the human body with stamina and energy in order to function to the best of their ability. Iron plays an important role in the growth and development of the human body to ensure that the body grows in a healthy manner. Trace amounts of iron are required to make hemoglobin; the protein necessary to transport oxygen around the body. This protein is stored mainly in the red blood cells which holds most of the body’s iron supply, but is also stored in muscle tissue as the oxygen is required to allow their contraction .Iron is also critical within cells to assist with the utilization of oxygen, enzymatic systems, neural development, the digestion of food, and overall functions of cells around the body
IMPORTANCE OF IRON
ANEMIA
Having inadequate servings of iron in your body
typically results in iron deficiency anemia, which in
fact is the most common nutritional deficiency in the
world most commonly found in females. Anemia
delays and weakens motor functions (activity and
movement) and mental functions (thinking and
processing skills) especially for teens. Anemia may result in fatigue which can impair one’s physical work, memory, and other mental functions. Iron deficiency anemia is a disease that occurs when the hemoglobins count within red blood cells are low. Since a low iron intake from your diet causes a lack of hemoglobins, there is a low count of red blood cells.This disease may occur due to pre-existing diseases such as malnutrition and helminthiasis, however also occurs due to a lack of iron in the body. Anemia can be defined as a lack of blood cells in ones body and in this scenario, iron deficiency anemia is a condition in which there is a lack of red blood cells due to the lack of iron in ones body system. This disease then decreases the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen. Healthy red blood cells are able to carry up to 4 oxygen particles at a time, however, when one has iron deficiency anemia, this amount it lowered.