Iron for Your Health

Why do we need iron?

Iron is an important mineral for health. Iron carries oxygen throughout the body. Most of the iron in the body is found in muscles, where it helps to store oxygen for use when doing physical or mental work. Iron is also important for fighting infection.

We need more iron for the growth that occurs in childhood, adolescence and pregnancy. Women need more iron than men because iron is lost each month during menstruation. Endurance athletes need extra iron because of their need for greater amounts of oxygen and the iron lost in sweat.

Without enough iron in our diets, iron deficiency can develop. A shortage of iron can:

• lead to a feeling of tiredness or low of energy
• make it hard to concentrate
• weaken the immune system (making it hard for the body to fight an infection)
• affect learning in children

Iron in Foods

Iron is found in many foods including meat, fish, poultry, legumes (examples: beans, peas and lentils), nuts and seeds, grain products and vegetables and fruit. In Canada and the United States, flour and other grain products, including breakfast cereals, are enriched with iron. See the table below for more information.

Food Sources of Iron

Source: Nutrient Value of Some Common Foods. Health Canada, 1999

Iron Absorption

Only some of the iron in the foods we eat is absorbed. The iron in meat, fish and poultry is absorbed best.

The iron in plant foods is not absorbed as well. Whole grains, legumes and vegetables contain substances that limit the amount of iron absorbed. Even though these foods are high in fibre, people with low iron should try to eat these foods at different times than foods that are high in iron until iron stores return to normal.

Also, coffee, tea, cocoa and red wine contain substances that limit the iron absorbed from foods.

Combining some foods can improve iron absorption. See the section below for more information.

Tips to Increase Iron

• Choose a variety of foods with iron everyday.
• Eat food sources of iron with food sources of vitamin C at the same meal or snack to increase iron absorption. For example:
  • drink orange juice with a bowl of oatmeal at breakfast
  • add diced red pepper to a tuna sandwich
  • include orange slices to spinach salad
• Eat plant sources of iron with meat, fish or poultry to increase iron absorption. For example, eat pasta with meat sauce or add nuts to chicken stir-fry.
• Cook in cast iron or stainless steel cookware to increase the amount of iron in foods.
• Enjoy nuts and dried fruit such as raisins, apricots, prunes, figs and dates as snacks or add to cereals.
• Add beans, peas or lentils to soups, stews, salads, casseroles and spaghetti sauce.
• Avoid drinking tea or coffee with iron-rich foods.

Food Sources of Vitamin C

Vegetables such as:

• tomatoes
• broccoli
• green or red pepper
• cabbage
• Brussels sprouts
• potatoes cooked in their skin

Fruits such as:

Daily Iron Requirements

Source: Dietary Reference Intakes, National Academy of Sciences (2001)>

Babies and Iron

Most full-term babies are born with iron stores in their bodies. If fed only breast milk, they will meet their iron needs for about the first six months of life. Although breast milk is low in iron, it is well absorbed by babies. Continued breastfeeding for up to two years of age and beyond, and adding solid foods high in iron at six months of age is healthiest for babies.

Babies who are formula fed should receive iron-fortified commercial formula until 9 to12 months of age. Iron-fortified commercial formula will provide enough iron to meet babies' daily iron needs.

From six months of age and older, iron-rich foods should be offered to babies everyday. Iron is needed for babies' growth and development and to prevent anemia. Iron-fortified baby cereals, meats (examples beef, pork, lamb and veal), poultry, fish, tofu, beans and other legumes and egg yolks are good sources of iron.

Eating foods containing vitamin C with foods high in iron helps babies to absorb iron. Most vegetables and fruit contain vitamin C, and add variety to babies' diet. See the section Food Sources of Vitamin C.

Vegetarians and Iron

People who eat a plant-based diet may have trouble meeting their iron needs. Vegetarians who are growing (examples: babies, children, adolescents and pregnant women) need more iron and may find it hard to meet their iron needs.

Vegetarians are advised to:

• carefully plan meals and snacks to include a variety of iron-rich foods
• ask their doctor or a dietitian about taking an iron supplement

Iron Supplements

For people with normal iron stores, taking iron supplements is not advised. Too much iron in your body can be harmful, especially to children. Always keep iron supplements or multivitamins with iron out of children's reach.

Iron supplements may be recommended for people with:

• low iron stores or anemia
• certain illnesses
• low amounts of iron in their diet, such as vegetarians
• high iron needs (examples: pregnant women or some menstruating women and endurance athletes)

These people may need to take iron supplements as advised by their doctor--there are no risks to these people if they take iron supplements.

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Reviewed by Alberta clinical experts. Brought to you by HealthLink Alberta. Copyright.
This material is designed for information purposes only. It should not be used in place of medical advice, instruction and/or treatment. For more health advice call Capital Health Link at 780-408-LINK (5465) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In Alberta, call Toll-free: 1-866-408-LINK (5465)