Iron is an essential mineral that is vital to our health. Because it’s essential we need to make sure we are including iron rich food in our diets. Iron is mainly found in our red blood cells and plays a crucial role in the formation of haemoglobin which is the primary transporter for oxygen from our lungs to our body tissue. Men can store up to 3 years worth of iron in their body, but woman can only store 1 year supply of iron.

To increase your iron intake

1. Eat food which contains vitamin C alongside your iron rich food. Studies have shown vitamin C to help increase the absorption of iron.
2. Take an iron supplement - ideally one that contains vitamin C to increase the absorption. Remember to always speak to your doctor before taking a new supplement. Getting a simple blood test to see if you require an iron supplement is important.
3. Make sure you are regularly eating iron rich foods. Examples include meat poultry, dark leafy greens and fortified cereals and breads.

If we let our body’s iron stores get too low we can end up with iron deficiency anaemia. This can results in symptoms like : shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, pale skin, cold hands and feet, hair loss, brittle nails and inflammation or soreness of your tongue. This can be diagnosed by a simple blood test.