Iron Tablets & Supplements

Iron Tablets & Supplements

Ironis a mineral found in every cell of the body.Ironis considered an essential mineral because the human body needsIronto make the oxygen-carrying proteins haemoglobin and myoglobin. Haemoglobin is found in red blood cells and myoglobin is found in muscles.

The human body will store someIronto replace any that is lost. However, lowIronlevel over a long period of time can lead toIrondeficiency anaemia. Symptoms include lack of energy, shortness of breath, headache, irritability, dizziness, lack of concentration, increased risk of infection, or weight loss. Physical signs ofIrondeficiency are a pale tongue and spoon-shaped nails.

TakingIron supplementsin the form ofIron tablets,Iron capsulesandliquid Ironcan correct a deficiency.

Thebest Iron tabletswill contain an easily absorbed form ofIronthat is gentle on the stomach and non-constipating.

Those at risk from lowIronlevel include:

• Women who are menstruating, especially if they have heavy periods
• Women who are pregnant or who have just had a baby
• Long-distance runners
• People with any type of bleeding in the intestines (inflammatory bowel disease, a bleeding ulcer)
• People who frequently donate blood
• People with gastrointestinal conditions that make it hard to absorb nutrients from food
• Vegetarians/vegans
• Babies and young children are at risk for lowIronlevel if they do not get the right foods

Milk is a very poor source ofIron. Children who drink large quantities of milk and avoid other foods may develop "milk anaemia”.Iron supplements for kids and babiesare available.

Children’s Iron supplementsinclude Floradix or floravital, Brauer Kids Liquid Multivitamin withIron.

Ensure that you only takeIron supplementsunder the advice of a health professional, as too muchIroncan also be harmful.