Could you be low in iron?

It is estimated that around 1 in 14 women are low in iron which is not surprising really when we need 18mg of iron a day, compared to men at 8mg. Yet we are often the ones to have less iron rich foods (and smaller steaks) or more likely to be vegetarian or vegan.

Also, pregnancy can also strip your iron stores given that you need a whopping 27mg when you are pregnant and if you don’t get it, like many of us don’t, you just get progressively more tired!

As well as our high requirements for iron, there are other reasons why you might need more, for example very heavy periods, like me. I have adenomyosis and a short cycle, so even with having plenty of iron in my diet and more than meeting my technical requirements, it is almost impossible for me to keep my levels up to where they need to be hence having to start back on supplements after getting my bloods done.

If you have issues with your gut health or have coeliac disease your ability to absorb enough iron may be compromised too, as well as other vitamins and minerals.

So, if you are feeling tired all the time, it is well worth asking your GP to check your bloods. If you are vegetarian, vegan, have heavy periods, are pregnant, breastfeeding or have gut issues this is even more important to keep on top of.

This is a good overview on iron and how to check what’s in your food too: How much iron do we need?

Please don’t just start taking iron supplements if you’re feeling tired, get checked first!

Claire x