Iron is a mineral essential to your health. It is prevalent in your blood and helps carry oxygen throughout your body to produce and maintain healthy cell development. It is important for everyone to consume iron, whether it is from nutritional sources or health supplements. In general, iron deficiencies affect men and women differently. In addition, individual health conditions also affect the body's processing of iron.
Iron Recommendations for Men
If you are a man, the National Institutes of Health recommends consuming 8 mg of iron each day. A little goes a long way, so it is relatively easily to get the amount of iron you need from nutritional sources or a multivitamin, if you take one each day. However, pre-existing medical conditions, such as an intestinal disorder that prevents the body from properly absorbing iron, sudden or extended blood loss or prolonged lack of iron, can cause a deficiency.
Diagnosing an Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency is a medical condition known as anemia. Anemia must be assessed and diagnosed by your doctor. To make this evaluation, he will most likely perform a diagnostic test to evaluate your hematocrit or hemoglobin levels. If you are a man, your hematocrit levels should be between 38.8 and 50 percent. Hematocrit levels below this threshold indicate likelihood of anemia. An adult male's hemoglobin levels should be between 13.5 and 17.5 g/dl.
Symptoms of Anemia
If you are a man who has been diagnosed with anemia, you might feel extremely tired and weak and experience regular shortness of breath. Dizziness and lightheadedness are also common. The development of circulation issues in your hands or feet may also occur. Monitor how you feel to provide your physician with these details. This helps him develop a comprehensive treatment plan that helps your symptoms.
Building an Iron Supply
Regularly eating foods that contain iron can help you to address your iron deficiency. For example, chicken livers, fried oysters or clams and roasted beef tenderloin contain some of the highest concentrations of iron. Eggs, dark green leafy vegetables and iron-fortified breads and cereals are also good choices to include in your diet.
Member Comments