Ask anyone who has been anemic, and you’ll hear the same thing, “I was just so tired!” Iron helps the blood carry oxygen to cells. Anemia means there isn’t enough iron to help and the result is fatigue. Anemia is the leading nutritional deficiency worldwide.
More women than men have anemia. There are many causes of anemia, such as rapid growth, inadequate intake, blood loss, and poor absorption. Fatigue is not the only symptom of anemia.
Additionally, you may experience:
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Headache
Cold hands & feet
Pale skin
Chest pain
Heart problems - Irregular heartbeat, murmur, enlarged heart, heart failure
Brittle nails
Swelling/sore tongue and cracks at the corners of the mouth
Enlarged spleen
Restless leg syndrome
Blue color in whites of eyes
Frequent infections
Some people with iron-based anemia exhibit Pica; a type of food craving in which non-food items are eaten such as ice, dirt, paint and starch.
If you have symptoms of anemia, get checked. Once the diagnosis is confirmed
take action! You may start taking an iron pill. The best absorbed ones are Ferrous Fumarate, Ferrous Sulfate and Ferrous Gluconate. Iron can be tough on your digestive tract, so buy an enteric coated or slow-release pill.
Add iron rich foods to your plate every day. The best-absorbed iron is from
animals. Every day, have a couple of servings of high iron foods such as chicken, turkey, fish, shellfish and lean red meat. You can also get iron from plants, but it is less absorbed. Good sources are iron fortified cereals, cooked dried peas/beans, tofu, dark green leafy vegetables, molasses, and raisins.
Get an extra boost in your ability to absorb iron by combining those iron rich
foods with a good source of vitamin C which is found in fruits and vegetables.
Best sources of Vitamin C are:
Fruit: berries, cantaloupe, citrus, honeydew melon, kiwi, papaya, pineapple, and mango
Vegetables: bell peppers, hot peppers, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, green cauliflower, collard greens, green beans, kale, spinach, tomatoes, and white potato.
Once you start to replenish your iron stores, be patient. It can take up to 2
months to start to feel significantly better. Having energy, and not always feeling tired, is well worth the wait.