The Need to Pump Iron

Some years ago, chronic fatigue haunted me every day. I’d go to sleep early but had difficulty getting out of bed twelve hours later. I would then have to nap later in the afternoon. Upon my husband’s insistence, I finally made a doctor’s appointment.

My doctor ordered a series of tests, most of which I couldn’t even pronounce. Three weeks later, the results were in. I was iron deficient. I thanked God that I wasn’t diagnosed with a life threatening disease. Iron deficiency is something that can be easily managed.

Iron is an essential mineral for life. It’s found in red blood cells and its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. This oxygen releases energy from the foods you eat. Some characteristics of low iron include weakness, lethargy, muscle fatigue, and shortness of breath. My doctor recommended iron supplement pills and choosing more colourful foods such as red meats, dark green vegetables, and the browns of whole grains.

Looking into it further, I learned that iron from meats, the “heme” form, is more easily absorbed than that from vegetables. In general, meat, fish, and poultry are excellent sources. Organ meats like liver, kidney, and heart are important sources. Others include beets, egg yolks, legumes, kale, sardines, oysters, anchovies, mussels, and clams. This would call for a revamping of my diet. Some food sources that I already had in my kitchen included raisins, dried apricots, spinach, broccoli, beans, dried fruits, whole grains, and enriched breads. Unfortunately, one friend told me that caffeine could inhibit the body’s absorption of iron. In researching this, I found out that indeed tea and coffee contain inhibitors. To my surprise, my desire to increase fibre in my diet may also have worked against iron absorption. According to a pamphlet published by the Beef Information Centre, “A high fibre intake in general may act as an iron inhibitor.” They recommend eating foods that contain heme iron and /or vitamin C when eating foods that act as iron inhibitors. For example, eating a spinach salad that has strawberries is a good combination; beans with tomato sauce and pork; spaghetti with meat sauce; a glass of orange juice with a bowl of oatmeal.

God truly blessed us with many food options. With summer here, I can easily make these ideas part of my weekly diet. I’m ready to start “pumping iron”. How about you?

Blessings on the road to health.

By Kimberley Payne

Kimberley Payne, a former Personal Trainer who lives in Millbrook, combines Christian commitment with ten years experience in the health and wellness arena. Visit her Website www.kimberleypayne.com

 

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