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Fatigue, Dizziness, Headaches? It may be Anemia.
You may have anemia. It's not a disease but is a symptom of an underlying concern. This type of anemia is an iron deficiency, and iron is critical for red blood cell production which transports nutrients and oxygen to our body's tissues.
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Those at risk include infants, teenage girls, athletes, pregnant women and the elderly. You can verify your hemoglobin levels, symptoms and signs with a simple blood test available through your doctor. Symptoms and signs include pale skin, fatigue, lack of stamina and endurance, learning disabilities, and impaired immune system.
How much iron is the right amount? Experts feel between 10-15mg from food is needed. Beets, potatoes, broccoli, beans, oatmeal, blackstrap molasses, red lean meat, liver, eggs, and dates are good sources. Coffee and tea make it hard for your body to absorb iron, and in fact, though iron is plentiful on many healthy foods, it is not always absorbed well. Because inorganic iron (ferrous chloride and ferrous sulfate) seems to interfere with the digestive tract and cause constipation, whole foods or plant source supplementation are the best choices. Floradix and Auxima Fera are two examples, or choose iron bound by amino acids which has no trouble passing through the intestinal walls and causes no side effects.
Pernicious Anemia is a severe form of anemia that is caused by the inability to absorb B12. It is much less common than ordinary anemia.
If you have symptoms it should be investigated to find out the cause. All you may need to do is eat more iron-rich foods, or enhance iron's absorption with vitamin C and / or Biostrath. Come in and see us for the best diet and supplementation recommendations.
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