Good Herbal Health

Women must take at least 18 milligrams of iron daily.  But according to Dr. Kitchens, a professor of medicine at University of Florida, most women take less, only about 10 milligrams.  This is acceptable as long as the woman does not lose the iron she has in her body.  A woman loses iron when she is pregnant or having her menstruation.  A woman also loses iron when she has an ulcer or tumor. 

If a woman has not yet reached her menopausal, she must ensure that her body has enough iron.  She can obtain this mineral from red meat, organ meat, legumes, green leafy vegetables, and dried fruits.  Iron-enriched cereals and breads are also good sources of this mineral.  And to make sure that her body absorbs the right kind of iron, she must also consume foods that are rich in vitamin C, such as orange and spinach, and in vitamin B, such as beef liver, tuna, oysters, eggs, asparagus, kidney beans, and cheese.

Iron is important because it metabolizes B vitamins and help boosts the immune system.  It helps produce hemoglobin that brings oxygen from the lungs to different parts of the body, and even to the brain.  The brain consumes a lot of oxygen. 

If there is insufficient iron to bring the oxygen to the brain, a person feels lethargic.  He also suffers shortness of breath, memory loss, unexplained fatigue, poor concentration, shortened attention span, infections, and a generally reduced work performance.  Iron deficiency also results in having cold hands and feet to other ailments such as split and pale nails and even restless legs.  If you have any of these symptoms, then you most likely need more iron-rich foods.

A woman who has an iron deficiency may just have enough iron to survive and get by.  But a woman who has iron-deficiency anemia does not have all the iron she needs for her body to function properly. 

Iron-deficiency anemia can be diagnosed by a blood test.  The health professional will check the levels of serum ferritin, serum iron, and total iron.  If the ferritin is the only component in low levels, then she has anemia or a chronic disease.  She can alleviate her condition by taking iron sulfate supplements.  If all components are low, then she has the iron-deficiency anemia. 

A woman who has depleted all her iron needs to be treated with iron therapy.  This will take a few weeks to one year, depending on how bad is her situation.  While taking iron supplements, she must avoid drinking tea, antacids, tofu, soy and tetracycline.  If the current brand or form of iron supplements makes her suffer diarrhea or constipation, she must switch to another brand or form.  This is vital so that she can get the right kind and amount of iron that her body needs.