Today I’d like to discuss the health benefits of iron. Most people don’t think about this key mineral. Why? Because most blood tests show that people are usually in the normal range for this vital mineral. But low levels of iron can show up in other ways.
Take myself for example. I supplement my diet with a lot of good quality products. And I usually have spinach every day. Spinach is one of the top foods for getting iron into you diet.
But about a month ago my wife asked me how I slept. I said fine. But she said my legs jerked about every 20 seconds. And it went on for about 2 hours. It kept her up but I didn’t even know I was doing this.
My wife did a Google search and found that this could be a symptom of low iron levels.
She encouraged me to start taking an iron supplement and that’s what I did. While what I share is anecdotal the following occurred:
The leg twitching has stopped.
And I have less fatigue during the day, especially in the evening.
Given this I decided to look into the health benefits of iron and here’s what I found.
8 Health Benefits of Iron
All human cells contain iron. It is one of the most vital minerals your body needs to operate properly. This is especially true for your red blood cells.
Most people associate this mineral with the first health benefit of iron which is treating and preventing anemia. Anemia occurs when the hemoglobin of your red blood cells is below normal ranges. The symptoms of anemia range can be:
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Fatigue,
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Dizziness,
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Fast Heart Rate,
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Malaise,
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or an Overall Feeling of Weakness.
Which brings us to the second health benefit of iron, which is that it boosts hemoglobin. The primary function of iron is to help form hemoglobin of the red blood cell. Hemoglobin’s main purpose is to transport oxygen. And since oxygen is need to create energy this is key to your overall health and wellness.
And it addresses the third benefit of iron, which is reducing fatigue. In fact iron my help you manage unexplained fatigue. This can affect both men and women. You don’t have to be anemic to experience fatigue.
While most blood tests will clearly show low iron levels resulting in anemia, they don’t show if you lack the optimal level of iron needed for your body. But symptoms of being tired all the time. Or sleepy during the day. Or normal activities leaving you exhausted can be signs that you body needs more of this vital nutrient.
And something as simple as an iron supplement can make a significant difference in eliminating feelings of tiredness and exhaustion.
The fourth benefit of iron is that it improves muscle strength. This makes sense since iron helps transport the needed oxygen for proper muscle contractions. Research has shown that low iron levels can lead to loss of muscle tone and elasticity.
Not only is iron needed to deliver oxygen to your muscles, it’s also needed to deliver oxygen to your brain. And this brings us to the fifth benefit of iron, which is improved concentration. Cognitive function drops with iron deficiency. And most research shows that when iron levels in the blood decline, the affect on concentration and attentiveness is almost immediate.
Iron helps plays an important role in the sixth benefit, which is improved sleep. Research shows that there is a direct connection between low iron levels and restless sleep, sleep apnea, and insomnia. If you are experiencing any of these issues, then a simple iron supplement may help you see improvements.
If you bruise easily, then you might need the seventh benefit of iron, which is to reduce bruising. Your hemoglobin affects the production and function of platelet cells that are needed to control blood clotting. Low iron levels, or an actual deficiency, could be a major factor in this health concern.
And the final health benefit of iron is that it strengthens wound healing. This is usually a function of proper oxygen delivery to the damaged cells, tissues, and organs. Oxygen is always needed for proper wound healing and low levels of iron can compromise this function.
In summary, here are the health benefits of iron:
Treats and Prevents Anemia
Boost Hemoglobin
Reduces Fatigue
Improves Muscle Strength
Improves Concentration
Improves Sleep
Reduces Bruising
Improves Wound Healing
As you can see iron is vital to your overall health and function. If you are experience any issues in these 8 areas, then a simple iron supplement may be beneficial to your overall health and function.
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