IRON AND ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE:

WHAT EVERY ATHLETE SHOULD KNOW

By Candice De Mendonça

Iron is rarely the first nutrient athletes think about when they plan their training nutrition, but it matters far more for performance than most people realise. Yes, it helps prevent anaemia. It also helps your body transport oxygen, make energy and keep your muscles working properly.

When your iron is low, sessions can feel harder than they should. Your usual pace slips away from you, or you feel flat in a way your training load cannot explain. None of these signs belongs to iron deficiency alone, but if you train regularly, they are worth looking into.

Here is the part I want you to hold on to: eating iron and absorbing iron are two different things. The type of iron you eat, what you eat it with and what your body needs at the time all affect how much you actually get to use.

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