Iron is known to be the second most important mineral in the body. So obviously, a lack of sufficient iron intake can lead to anaemia – a condition that lowers the number of red blood cells in your body. Iron is also an important nutrient that helps with metabolic functioning and acts as a catalyst in the synthesis of haemoglobin. Women are usually more prone to this deficiency resulting in lethargy, tiredness, palpitation, sensitivity to cold and shortness of breath. Consuming iron-rich foods is the best way to keep anaemia and other related health conditions at bay. Here a few easy ways to ensure that you have enough iron in your diet.
Steam veggies:
Instead of cooking your veggies with oil and spices, steam them. This increases the bio-availability of iron and makes the intake healthier.
Load up on Vitamin C:
Vitamin C plays an important role in iron absorption. The more Vitamin C you take in, the more your body absorbs iron. You could also consider taking supplements, which aid iron absorption.
Kick the butt:
Smoking can affect the iron levels in your body. It affects your body’s capacity to absorb vital nutrients such as iron.
Use cast iron cookware:
Cast-iron cookware can help in keeping the iron in your meal intact, especially while cooking highly acidic foods like tomatoes, olive oil and cheese.
Take in more Vitamin B:
B-12 is a vitamin that’s easily available in fish and meat, which are rich in iron. B-9 is available in fruits and veggies such as oranges, leafy greens and legumes, which are a great source of iron for vegetarians. Both, B-9 and B-12, which are also known as folic acid and cobalamin respectively, help in reversing iron deficiency.
