HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Feeling fatigued? 3 Ways
Women can Boost Iron Intake
Article by Dr. Tieraona Low Dog
(BPT) - If you're a woman who feels like you're constantly fighting fatigue, there could be a physical reason for that sluggishness. In the US, 1 in 10 women, between 12 and 49 years old, are dealing with the results of low iron, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and that can easily lead to extra fatigue and muscle weakness. Unfortunately, iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), particularly affecting menstruating women, pregnant women, vegans and vegetarians, athletes (especially women) and recent blood donors.
"Many women have low iron levels and simply don't know it," reports Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, an internationally recognized expert in the fields of integrative medicine, herbal medicine and dietary supplementation, and author of National Geographic's "Fortify Your Life: Your Guide to Vitamins, Minerals and More." "Iron is absolutely critical to some of our most basic functions, like energy production, oxygen circulation and healthy brain function."
"In conjunction with high-iron foods, eat foods high in vitamin C that promote iron absorption. "
The good news is, low iron stores can be easy to correct. Scientists at Mayo Clinic suggest the following remedies:
* Eat more foods rich in iron; these include meat, eggs, soybeans, seafood, beans, peas, peanuts, dark-green leafy vegetables, dried fruits, oatmeal and/or iron-fortified breads, cereals and pastas.
* In conjunction with high-iron foods, eat foods high in vitamin C that promote iron absorption. This group includes citrus fruits and juices, melons, strawberries, kiwi, broccoli, leafy greens, peppers and tomatoes.