Among hero vitamins and minerals, you probably get them all, including Vitamin C, the most popular Vitamin D, and fiber. These nutrients are essential to keep your body healthy and various illnesses at bay. But, what if it isn’t enough? How could you tell?
Well, it could be the tiredness in your eyes, the cold hands, or pale skin that may tell you something isn’t right. Unfortunately, if you deal with that, you also probably suffer from iron deficiency.Â
Here is what you need to know.
Remember to discuss with a doctor if any of the following issues are really bothering you. Only a specialist can recommend you the best treatment.
Headaches
According to Dr Rachel Paul PhD RD from CollegeNutritionist.com:
“[…] typically the first sign is fatigue and headaches…”
If you deal with headaches that become troubling, you should know that iron is essential for enough haemoglobin levels in your red blood cells.
Dizziness
Iron deficiency can play with your brain in such ways it’ll make you feel dizzy a lot. But, it can also mimic other ailments, so it’s better to discuss with a doctor and do a lab draw.
Too Tired
Here’s a fact: our bodies use iron to transport oxygen to all of our body parts. So if you deal with iron deficiency, you might experience sudden tiredness all the time and feel lethargic.
Weaker Muscles
Low to very low iron storages can affect your muscles a lot. It can limit the performance and recovery and limit aerobic capacity, as well.
Pale Skin and Brittle Nails
Another common side effect of iron deficiency is pale skin and brittle nails. But why you experience this?
Specialists say that it’s our bodies’ responses to anaemia. For example, your nails can develop something known as koilonychia, becoming brittle.Â
As for the pale skin, the lack of haemoglobin in your red blood cells is to blame.
More Iron in Your Diet
Adding iron-rich foods into your diet is a start if you want to treat iron deficiency. Foods like beans, eggs, beef, and spinach, are all perfect for your diet plan.Â
And if you’re a vegetarian, you can choose vitamin C-rich foods, such as tomatoes, red bell peppers, citrus fruits, and leafy greens.Â