Are You Getting Enough Iron? 7 Symptoms of Iron Deficiency and What to Do About It

Iron deficiencies can be more common than you may think. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, absolute and functional iron deficiency both affect a large percentage of adults in the US -- around 14% and 15%, respectively. An absolute iron deficiency occurs when there is an absence of iron in the body. A functional iron deficiency happens when the body has enough iron but is unable to use it. Those typically affected by an absolute iron deficiency are young women, while people of all ages can experience a functional iron deficiency. If you're experiencing an iron deficiency, you may begin feeling exhausted or weak among other common symptoms. Iron comes from specific foods, and if you aren't consuming enough of those iron-enriched foods, you could be missing a key part of your diet. Depending on your doctor's advice, some may even want to take iron supplements. Keep reading to learn about how much iron you should be getting, iron-deficiency symptoms and h ... Read full article.