Are you tired, lacking energy, and cannot figure out why?

January 26, 2018 by Tracy

Anaemia is a very common condition affecting around 20% of the population at any one time. Easy to dismiss and so easy to diagnose (a simple blood test at your GP surgery will tell you). Ask yourself, have you been feeling tired lately, putting it down to the eternal being busy with work, kids, studies…well, you may just be low in this essential mineral which is found in lots of everyday foods such as red meat, leafy greens and whole grains. Whilst a big juicy steak may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it is the most efficient food in terms of iron absorption as the iron from red meat is absorbed faster in the body. If that’s not your thing, fill up on leafy greens such as kale and cabbage, or beans and slow release whole grains.
 
An iron supplement is also a good way of replenishing those iron reserves.
 
Iron is crucial for the efficient transit of oxygenated blood to your organs for growth and repair, a lack of iron rich blood cells in the blood puts excess pressure on the heart as it has to increase its work as a pump. 

The most common symptoms are of low iron are:

• tiredness and lack of energy
• shortness of breath
• noticeable heartbeats (heart palpitations)
• pale skin

Although, there are some less common, more subtle signs, that you may be lacking in iron:

• headache
• hearing ringing, buzzing or hissing noises inside your head (tinnitus)
• food tasting strange
• feeling itchy
• a sore tongue
• hair loss – you notice more hair coming out when brushing or washing it
• wanting to eat non-food items (for example, paper or ice) – called pica
• finding it hard to swallow (dysphagia)
• painful open sores (ulcers) in the corners of your mouth
• spoon shaped nails
• restless legs syndrome