Iron is a part of hemoglobin, which, in turn, is a component of erythrocytes, that is, red blood cells.
Thanks to hemoglobin, the cells of our body are saturated with oxygen. As a result of iron deficiency anemia (lack of iron in the body), the level of hemoglobin and red blood cells in the blood decreases, which leads to hypoxia of tissues and organs.
Below you will find the most common reasons why iron deficiency may develop.
Irregular and unbalanced nutrition can be called one of the main reasons for iron deficiency. Vegetarians and people who adhere to strict diets are primarily at risk. Iron deficiency anemia can also occur as a result of decreased iron absorption, which is observed in gastrointestinal diseases and in old age.
Chronic blood loss is caused by factors such as frequent nosebleeds, heavy menstruation, gastrointestinal bleeding, helminthiasis, chronic infections and other pathologies. In addition to the above, iron deficiency can be caused by acute blood loss due to trauma or uncontrolled donation.
The need for iron may be increased individually for some people, for example, for children and adolescents during periods of active growth, for girls during the establishment of the menstrual cycle, for pregnant and lactating women, during intense physical activity and in other situations.
Earlier we talked about what you shouldn’t eat with bread.