Iron Mineral101

Iron is a mineral that is essential to the health and functioning of the body. Deficiencies in iron can have serious consequences for overall health and even energy levels. While iron is important for both sexes, it is of particular importance to women due to biological and reproductive factors. However, world wide, many people do not meet the minimum suggested daily intake of iron resulting in a variety of health problems that range from the mild, which simply increasing the daily iron intake could remedy, to the severe, which often require more complex treatments but could easily have been avoided by sufficient daily iron consumption.

Iron serves several purposes within the body. One of the most important functions of iron in the system is its role is oxygenating the blood. Another essential role of iron is energy metabolism. It is a factor of the neurodevelopment of babies as they grow and develop in the uterus. Iron also serves to promote the important functioning of the body's immune system particularly in the production of the white blood cells essential in fighting infection and disease. Iron is also essential in properly utilizing the B vitamins.

Women, because of their role in reproduction, need to be especially sure that their iron levels are sufficient especially during pregnancy as the healthy growth and development of their babies depends on it. Because of blood loss during menstruation, most women need to take a little extra precaution during that time period to make sure their iron levels stay at recommended levels.

Iron deficiencies can cause a variety of health problems. Anemia is by far the most common and it results in weakness, fatigue and, to the detriment especially of school children, an inability to concentrate properly. Oxygen is one of the most important life giving forces of the body and due to the essential role of iron in seeing to it that oxygen reaches all parts of the body, via the blood, general feelings of health and well-being rely on proper iron levels.

Dietary supplements that include iron, as well as iron enriched foods, play an important role world wide in achieving the recommended daily iron requirements of the human body. However, like any other dietary supplement or medicine, iron supplements must be used properly to be effective and to avoid inducing other serious health problems. Always remember also to couple your iron supplement drinking with ascorbic acid or vitamin C. This is to help the body absorb the iron more quickly.

An overdose of iron in small children can be fatal. Always keep iron supplements and vitamins that contain iron well out of the reach of children. A reminder for parents who wisely make use of a daily multivitamin and iron supplement for their children: if you are using those brightly colored, cartoon character types, always be sure to remind your children that those are powerful medicines and not merely candy. That way if the bottle is accidentally left down and the child does find it, they are less likely to overdose themselves with it and more likely to call it to your attention that you left it in their reach.

Iron is an essential nutrient for some of the body's very important functions and processes. For many years, dietary supplements have been a safe and trusted means of making sure to meet the recommended daily iron intake levels. When used properly, iron supplements are a good choice for helping to keep the body strong and healthy.

Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR'S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.

Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about Vitamins, please go to: http://vitamins.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/

---

Looking For Health Care Supplements ? The Easy Way To Order

When looking for health care supplements Texas residents can enjoy... Read More

Fatigue After WLS: Iron Deficiency May Be the Cause

I've been feeling a tired and slow lately. Just don't... Read More

More Complete Arthritis Supplement

People accept arthritic disease as a 'natural part of the... Read More

Fatty Acids Could Protect Against Parkinson?s

Both types of unsaturated fatty acids are contained within neuronal... Read More

Truth About Omega 3

Since Dr Basant Puri, a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer... Read More

Ganoderma Lucidum - The Wonder Herb

One of the most apparent influences modern times has brought... Read More

Know Your Bodybuilding Supplement - L-Arginine

Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that the body cannot... Read More

Getting the Most Out of Your Supplements and Yourself

Are you not feeling any results from your nutritional supplements?Here... Read More

L-tyrosine and Your Health

L-tyrosine is a protein that the body produces from phenylamine,... Read More

Acid Amino Arginine ? An Acid With Many Benefits

When you buy acid amino arginine you can look forward... Read More

Treatment of Heart Disease with Coenzyme Q10

Since its discovery in the late 1950â??s Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)... Read More

Megadosing

If you're constantly digging your hand into a jar of... Read More

Keeping Illnesses at Bay with Antioxidant Vitamins

Antioxidant vitamins perform many important tasks that our bodies benefits... Read More

Physical Activity and Supplements Found to Increase HDL Cholesterol Levels

Much of what we hear and read in the media... Read More

Supplements and Drugs: A Hazardous Combination

As I have become more involved in using functional nutritional... Read More

Why Do Liquid Form Nutritional Supplements Have Much Greater Bodily Absorption Than Pills?

Did you know that when you take vitamins and minerals... Read More

Are MLM Nutrition Supplements Right For You?

Considering that the Health and Wellness industry is currently a... Read More

Glutathione - Your Brains Master Antioxidant Defense

Free radicals and oxyradicals play an important role in the... Read More

A Guide to Herbal Sleep Aids

Difficulty sleeping can affect many aspects of life. People who... Read More

Know Your Bodybuilding Supplement - HMB

HMB stands for beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate. It is a metabolite of... Read More

Take Back Your Life 2

In part one of this series, titled "Take Back Your... Read More

Coral Calcium: The Preferred Source of Absorbable Calcium

Coral Calcium is an excellent source of readily accessible and... Read More

Discover Natural Supplements That Really Give Relief From Arthritic Pain

If you suffer from arthritis pain, chances are you've heard... Read More

Researching Glyconutritionals (a.k.a. Glyconutrients)?

The Greek word "Glyco" means, "Sugar". Most people think of... Read More

Vitamin B-2

Riboflavin is a common name for vitamin B-2 and was... Read More

Vitamin C - The Key to Great Health

Vitamin C is important to all animals, including humans, because... Read More

Glyconutrients: A Breakthrough Discovery

The science of Glycobiology, touted by the Massachusetts Institute of... Read More

Is Lunesta Safe For You?

Everyone has an occasional sleepless night, and this is not... Read More

Can You Drink Your Way To Good Health?

Many years ago I became convinced of the need to... Read More

Mangosteen

Rarely has a fruit that has been so unknown to... Read More

Nutritional Vitamin Fiber Supplements ? Which One Is For You?

Nutritional vitamin fiber supplements come in a variety of types,... Read More

How to Neutralize the Terrorists Within Your Body

Did you know that there are free radical biochemical "terrorists"... Read More

Natural Tonics for Health and Wellness

I'm a great believer in natural tonics to strengthen or... Read More