What are Iron Supplements?
Animals and plants require iron. Plants use iron in chlorophyll, the pigment used in photosynthesis. Humans use iron in haemoglobin molecules in blood to allow for the transport of oxygen to tissues throughout the body.
Although iron is an essential mineral, too much of it is extremely toxic. You should get your iron levels checked at the doctors every year. Free iron in the blood reacts with peroxides to form free radicals that damage DNA, protein, lipids and other cellular components, leading to illness and sometimes death. 20 milligrams of iron per kilogram of body weight is toxic, while 60 milligrams per kilogram is lethal. The symptoms of too much iron in the blood are very similar to not enough iron in the blood.
Foods that contain Iron:
Liver, lean red meats, including beef, pork, chicken and turkey, lamb seafood, such as oysters, clams, tuna, salmon, and shrimp, etc. Beans, including kidney, lima, navy, black, pinto, soy beans, and lentils, iron fortified whole grains, including cereals, breads, rice, and pasta. Greens, including collard greens, kale, mustard greens, spinach, and turnip greens. Tofu. Vegetables, including broccoli, swiss chard, asparagus, parsley, watercress, brussel sprouts. Blackstrap molasses. Nuts. Egg yolks. Dried fruits, such as raisins, prunes, dates and apricots.
Iron Suplements
You can also source your Iron from a supplement. Some examples of iron supplements are below:
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