If the human body lacks iron, it can lead to anemia. This condition leads to muscle weakness and extreme tiredness. It even determines the ability of a person to fight infections. Generally, iron levels in the body are tested using blood tests. If the levels are low, your doctor recommends taking iron supplements that are available by prescription or over-the-counter. However, taking too many iron supplements has its own risks. It can damage the liver or lead to diabetes. Here, a person suffering from a low mineral level should look for natural ways to increase the level of iron in the body.
The best way to increase the level of iron in the body is the consumption of food rich in iron. Animal-based products contain heme iron, while plant-based foods have iron-free iron. The body, as a rule, absorbs heme iron better than iron without iron. Foods that are high in heme iron are oysters, clams, liver, and clams. In addition, poultry, fish and beef contain a large amount of mineral. If you are a vegetarian, plant-based sources of iron include seeds, nuts, green leafy vegetables, molasses, dried beans and legumes.
Fortunately, food technology has improved in our time, and people can purchase products enriched with vitamins and minerals. The National Institute of Nutritional Supplements states that fortified cereals and bread can provide a person with daily iron requirements. In fact, the consumption of one serving of cold or hot grain, enriched with additional iron, can provide a person with 100% of the need for iron during the day. Iron enriched bread, cereals and sand give a person 6-8% of his daily iron requirement.
People who prefer to eat vegetarian sources of iron can increase the absorption of the mineral by combining food with a rich vitamin C product, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Consumption of citrus fruits, juices of citrus fruits, tomato juice and tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and can be combined with non-heme food sources.
However, while consuming iron-rich foods, a person must ensure that non-heme iron and calcium are not consumed together, since the latter may interfere with the absorption of the former, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Calcium-rich foods such as cheese, milk and yogurt should not be consumed by vegetarian sources of iron. In addition, tea and bran cannot be consumed with plant sources of iron, since they reduce the amount of iron available for absorption.
