Iron is one of the 16 essential minerals the body needs to function properly. Without enough iron in your body, you can become deficient and potentially develop iron-deficiency anemia. When either scenario happens, it’s important to eat foods high in iron and take an iron supplement your body tolerates to raise levels back within a healthy range.
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What is Iron?
As an essential mineral, you must consume iron in your diet to get it into your body. While considered a trace mineral, the body needs iron more than other trace minerals like zinc and selenium. It’s one of the most common nutrients to become deficient in worldwide.
Iron is a part of proteins hemoglobin and myoglobin, which are found in red blood cells and muscle cells, respectively. Both hemoglobin and myoglobin carry oxygen throughout the body to where it’s needed.
Besides oxygen transport, iron is also needed for immunity and proper brain function. Iron aids the body’s infection-fighting response because it is a necessary part of lymphocyte and macrophage production–two types of white blood cells. Additionally, iron is a key component in the synthesis of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, and epinephrine.
Iron is available in two forms: Heme and non-heme.
Heme iron, or ferrous iron, is better absorbed by the body and is two to three times more bioavailable than its non-heme counterpart. It’s solely found in animal sources such as meat, poultry, and seafood. That’s why you’ll often hear people joke about eating a steak to treat anemia!
Non-heme iron, or ferric iron, comes from plant sources. It’s also the form of iron that’s used to fortify food products such as cereal, bread, and other grains. Non-heme iron is often bound with other compounds like oxalates or polyphenols, making them tougher for the body to absorb.
How Much Iron Do You Need Daily?
The recommended daily intake (RDI) of iron varies depending on age and sex. Adult males between 19-50 years old only require 8mg/day, while menstruating females of the same age need 18mg/day to compensate for monthly blood loss. Pregnant women should aim for 27mg/day.
If you don’t get enough iron in your diet, or if you suffer from heavy periods, you could become iron deficient. If left untreated, this could then develop into iron-deficiency anemia. Symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia include fatigue, weakness, paleness, heart palpitations, dizziness, headache, cold hands or feet, trouble thinking or concentrating, restless legs syndrome, or craving unusual things like ice or dirt (pica).
If you are experiencing these symptoms, notify your doctor! They’ll likely check your iron level by ordering a CBC (complete blood count). However, you should also consider asking to check your ferritin level. Ferritin is a measure of iron stores in the body and low levels can also contribute to similar symptoms. I know it does for me!
What Are Good Foods to Eat to Raise Iron Levels?
If your doctor tells you that you’re iron deficient or anemic, you’ll want to start eating foods high in iron to raise your levels. High iron foods include:
- Red meat
- Poultry, especially dark meat
- Eggs
- Beef or chicken liver
- Oysters, clams, and shrimp
- Beans (white, lima, red kidney, black, etc.)
- Pumpkin, flax, hemp, and sesame seeds
- Fortified sources like cereals, bread, grains, crackers, and protein bars
- Leafy greens like spinach
- Lentils
- Chickpeas
- Soybeans
- Cashews and almonds
- Baked potato
- Raisins and dried apricots
You can also cook your food in a cast-iron skillet or dutch oven, such as the Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
Raise Iron Levels With a Supplement
Along with eating high-iron foods, you should also take an iron supplement to further help raise your iron levels.
But not all iron supplements are created equal.
One of the most common side effects of taking iron supplements is unpleasant GI symptoms, such as constipation, nausea, or stomach upset. Ferrochel (ferrous bisglycinate chelate) is a form of iron that is known to reduce the adverse GI side effects typically experienced from taking traditional iron supplements. Look for this type of iron in a supplement, such as Country Life Easy Iron
Plus, some formulas of iron are better absorbed than others. Remember, ferrous iron (heme iron) is better absorbed than ferric iron (nonheme iron). Look for ferrous iron–sold as ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate, or ferrous fumerate–on each supplement label.
It has taken me a while to find an iron supplement that I can easily tolerate without experiencing unwanted GI side effects.
For the past four months, I’ve been using Trace Minerals Liquid Ionic Iron
Another good thing about Trace Minerals Liquid Ionic Iron
Although, it’s also great for healthy hair, skin and nails, energy, and immunity. But perhaps most importantly, I feel so much better since I started taking this liquid iron. My symptoms of iron-deficiency are disappearing for the first time in a very long time. Hooray!
As I’ve said earlier, vitamin C enhances iron absorption. Try drinking orange juice, or eating citrus fruits, bell peppers, or berries at the same time as taking your supplement. Taking iron on an empty stomach is also better for absorption, but this may cause stomach upset, especially if your stomach is sensitive. I usually have a snack so my stomach isn’t completely empty.
On the other hand, avoid dietary fiber, oxalates (found in spinach), polyphenols (found in tea and coffee), and the minerals calcium, zinc, and magnesium. When taken at the same time as your iron supplement, these can inhibit iron absorption.
How long you have to take iron supplements to feel better is highly individual. Generally, people start noticing relief from symptoms anywhere from one to four weeks. However, you may need to continue taking a supplement for several months. Your doctor will monitor your iron and/or ferritin levels to assess how long you should remain on a supplement.
Quick Summary
Out of all trace minerals, iron is needed the most by the body. To avoid iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia, eat foods that are high in both heme iron and nonheme iron, and take an iron supplement along with vitamin C. Heme iron, or ferrous iron, is better absorbed by the body, so choose supplements formulated with this type of iron. Ask your doctor to repeat a CBC to monitor your progress toward raising your iron level.
Check out my recipe for healthy vegetarian chili next! It’s made with two different kinds of beans, so not only is it hearty, but it makes for a delicious high-iron meal.
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Sources:
1. https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/ta3912
2. Blake, J. S., Munoz, K. D., & Volpe, S. (2014). Trace Minerals. In Nutrition: From science to you (2nd ed., pp. 476-480). New York: Pearson.
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6416187/
4. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/14568-oral-iron-supplementation
