As women lose blood during their monthly cycle, their bodies also lose iron. When the iron in a woman’s diet isn’t enough to make up for the amount of iron lost, the body’s iron supply depletes. This can lead to iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. Anemia is a condition caused by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin, while iron deficiency is a specific type of anemia caused by a lack of iron in the body, which is crucial for red blood cell production.
Both of these conditions are underdiagnosed and undertreated. If you go for an annual physical and don’t ask about an iron deficiency screening, your doctor might not include it in your blood work. This leaves many women feeling symptoms such as headaches, hair loss, poor concentration, and more. This can affect one’s sleep, thinking, energy, and mood. A recent study showed that nearly 40% of girls and young women don’t get enough iron, most likely due to menstruation.
But why is iron so important for the body? Iron is necessary for the body to make red blood cells, muscle tissue, hair, many enzymes, and other molecules. Growing bodies especially have high iron needs. When your body doesn’t have enough iron, it starts to conserve iron wherever it can. The body continues to produce red blood cells until you can’t produce enough hemoglobin, which is a substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen. If your blood cells don’t have enough oxygen or are unable to carry enough oxygen due to low hemoglobin, it can make you tired or short of breath. This is called iron-deficiency anemia.
The recommended amount of daily iron intake depends on a person’s age, gender, and whether they are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you’re not iron deficient, the recommended amount is 8-18 mg of iron daily. To prevent iron deficiency, it’s important to have a balanced diet that is rich in food sources of iron. Good sources of iron include meat such as beef, lamb, and pork, as well as leafy greens like broccoli and kale. Additionally, darker colored berries like pomegranate, blackberries, and raspberries are also a great way to meet your daily iron goals.
However, not all the iron you eat is absorbed into your body. On average, if you eat 10 to 15 mg of iron, only 1 to 2 mg of it is absorbed into the blood via the intestines. Iron is best absorbed in an acidic environment in the stomach. Consume foods high in citrus to help your body absorb iron. Iron deficiency is also not immediately cured after consuming foods rich in iron. It usually takes three to four months of treatment with iron supplementation to treat iron deficiency. That’s why it’s important to ask your doctor about blood work to test your iron levels so that you can properly take care of your body on your cycle.
About The Author: My name is Lizbeth Manoj and I am the News editor for my school’s newspaper, the CHAT! I love writing stories, especially about important issues that impact our community. I’m so excited to be writing stories for PHP and helping spread awareness. In my free time, I love to dance, read, and travel.
