Health & Fitness
Pumping Iron
Angela explains the importance of iron in your diet, how you feel when you are low and what foods help aid in iron support.
By Angela Schiz
Yes we need to pump iron for strength, however, I'm talking about internal iron which we also need. As women we multi-task, we juggle work, family, a social life and with our busy schedules we sometimes don't get enough iron in our diet which can make us feel run down especially during that time of month when menstruation approaches. We lose iron when we menstruate this would be a good time to make sure that we eat enough food sources rich in iron.
Food iron is mainly found in ferric form. Sources come from red meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, legumes, enriched grains, fortified cereals, most dried fruits, and green leafy vegetables. (Remember Popeye the sailor man he always ate a can of spinach to make him strong). Heme forms which come from meat are better absorbed then non-heme forms from plant sources. Iron is necessary for red blood cell synthesis, it enables tissues to utilize oxygen and strengthens the immune system.
Nutrition Tip: Vitamin C aids in iron absorption. Next time you have a roast beef or turkey sandwich eat an orange or toss a few strawberries in your spinach salad.
