Tired And Sluggish? This Essential Mineral Could Be The Answer
Despite many of us watching our diet carefully so that we do not leave out any important vitamins and minerals, it often happens that one particular mineral is left out. When this happens, your body will probably start showing some signs of wear, and this is when one may feel that they are tired and sluggish. It is therefore important that we give our bodies all the essential minerals so we can keep fighting fit. Iron is that essential mineral responsible for the carrying of oxygen to every part of our body, and if you are deficient in it, you may begin feeling sluggish and tired all the time and for no good reason even when you know you have been getting enough sleep.
When iron is insufficient in the body, there will be a decrease in healthy oxygen that should aid in carrying the red blood cells. This will eventually affect our memory and to a great extent, one might find a simple thing, such as remembering certain words while talking very difficult. Just like anemia, an iron deficiency reduces the work capacity of an individual. This deficiency is especially notorious in women, and it may get worse during their menstrual cycle. This is also a deficiency quite commonly found in vegetarians. It is therefore important to keep watch of what your diet consists of to make sure that you are eating foods rich in iron to maintain a healthy iron level.
To boost or maintain healthy iron levels, you can eat spinach and lentils. You can also get iron from some dried fruits, such as apricots, peaches and raisins. Of course, greens are always a good source of iron, so don’t forget to eat collard greens, kale and broccoli. Soybeans, pumpkin seeds, black beans, and strawberries are some more options when you are looking for foods high in iron. If you add these into your diet, then you should not suffer from an iron deficiency. However, if you include these foods in your diet, and you still don’t end up getting the desired results, this would be a result of your body not being able to absorb the iron contained in foods. To remedy this shortcoming, you need foods rich in vitamin C, which will help in their absorption. The best fruits are citrus fruits, berries, mangoes, kiwi fruit and papaya. So do not wait until your body complains, start making these foods part of your routine daily diet.
Due to today’s hectic lifestyle, there may be times when you can’t get enough iron and vitamin C through the meals you eat. At such times, iron and vitamin C supplements come in handy. Talk to your doctor about an appropriate iron supplement. Usually, you will only need to take one every few days. Take your supplement along with a vitamin C tablet or drink to ensure it is properly absorbed by the body.