Health benefits of Iron
November 23rd 2007 10:30
Iron is an essential and vital mineral for good health.
Required by the body to produce red blood cells, Irons main job is to carry oxygen in hemoglobin and this arduous process uses up roughly two-thirds of the body's iron. Iron is also an important component of metabolism and an essential cofactor in the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.
A lack of iron in one's diet can cause all sorts of problems, namely, weakness, tiredness, shortness of breath and general physical fatigue.
There are two forms of dietary iron - heme and non-heme. Heme iron is derived from hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to cells and non-heme iron is from plant foods. Good dietary sources of iron are:
Heme
- red meat
- liver and other organ meats
- fish
- poultry
Non-heme
- lentils
- dried beans/peas
- flours
- cereals
- grains
Heme iron is typically better absorbed than non-heme, but generally speaking, iron found in foods are often poorly absorbed by the body.
The good news is that there are many over the counter iron supplements that can be bought and one of them is in the form of iron picolinate capsules. A single capsule typically contains 25mgs of iron and the recommended dosage is one in the morning (with meal) as a dietary supplement.
Since excessive dietary iron is toxic thus leading to vomiting, diarrhea, and damage to the intestine, remember to consult your health care professional before adding any iron supplements to your existing diet.
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