Diagnosing And Curing An Iron Deficiency

The best way to diagnose an iron deficiency is to see a doctor, however, there are lots of early signs and symptoms that you can be on the lookout for - just in case. An iron deficiency is more than just a lack of iron in your blood, it also decreases your red blood cell count, leaving you tired, pale, and unable to sleep.

At the risk of getting to technical, iron is a requirement red blood cells have to create hemoglobin. The hemoglobin is what carries oxygen around your body to your different body parts. It also is a requirement to make myoglobin, similar to hemoglobin except that it stores the oxygen in your muscles instead of transporting it. Without oxygen, your body doesn't have what it needs to operate. It's like holding your breath - you get tired and a little lightheaded because your body is not getting the oxygen it needs.

There are a number of reasons your body may become iron deficient, or anemic. You may simply not be getting enough iron, your body may not be absorbing it properly or you may have experienced a dramatic loss in blood. There are a few other possible causes such as alcoholism, overuse of aspirin or some other type of anti inflammatory drug as well as a variety of diseases that cause internal bleeding. However, if you suspect an iron deficiency and it's not due to internal bleeding or similar more serious illnesses, an iron deficiency can be relatively easy to reverse and cure.

Women, elderly and young children are at the greatest risk for being iron deficient. Women and teenagers are at a greater risk due to the blood loss caused by menstruation. Young children and babies can be at risk for a variety of reasons including improperly mixed formula or from drinking goat or cow's milk. Premature babies also have a high risk due to their typically rapid growth rate. However, even though certain groups of people are at a higher risk, everyone has a possibility of developing an iron deficiency.

Iron Supplements

Curing the deficiency
Taking iron supplements or simply increasing the amount of iron rich food may be a very easy way to cure an iron deficiency, however, a doctor should always be consulted to determine if it is actually an iron deficiency and not some other type of disease. A doctor can do a simple blood test that will let you know if you are deficient. Iron rich foods include: meat, beans, nuts, raisins, fish and fortified cereals. The iron contained in meat is much more readily absorbed than that in beans and vegetables, so if you are a vegetarian, you may need more than the typical person to assure adequate iron absorption.

Iron supplements
Iron supplements can be a powerful way to cure a deficiency anemia, however, too much iron can cause more harm than good. There is a disease called hemocromatosis that actually causes your body to absorb too much iron, making iron supplements a very dangerous product. Taking too much iron can also increase your risk of infections making it even more important to consult a doctor when considering taking an iron supplement. Some signs that you are getting more iron than your body can absorb include dark stools or constipation.

Tips To Get The Best Out Of Your Vitamins

A survey by CNN found that more than half the adults questioned did not eat a healthy, balanced diet. Modern lifestyles are no doubt contributors to these statistics, and its easy to see why vitamin and mineral supplements have become so popular.

But beyond the simple bottle of multivitamins available in supermarkets, and a general acceptance that we need the basic nutrients, there is a vast use for supplements that is gaining popularity. More people are using them to prevent disease, shorten the duration of colds, and alleviate other symptoms.

But minerals and vitamins are not all benign. Some counteract the benefits of others. Some need to be taken with food, and others should be avoided when certain things are consumed. Here are some tips to get the most out of your supplements:

• Fat soluble vitamins need to be taken with food to be well absorbed. The fat soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, and E
• Iron tablet are often poorly absorbed. Try taking them with vitamin C, or drinks or food rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits
• Tea and coffee impede the absorption of mineral supplements
• Time-released vitamins may actually provide better absorption
• Chelated minerals that are associated with organic compounds like amino acids, picolinates, or citrates are usually better absorbed than those bound with inorganic compounds like sulfates and phosphates

Iron-Free Vita-Min

There is no difference in the body's ability to use natural vitamin C and synthetic vitamin C

• Natural forms of vitamin E are generally better absorbed than synthetic vitamin E. Natural vitamin E is chemically known as d-alpha-tocopherol, and synthetic vitamin E is dl-alpha-tocopherol
• Vitamin E supplements should not be taken by people on anti-coagulant medications like warfarin.
• People with kidney stones or cancer should not take calcium supplements.
• Iron, zinc, and selenium can be toxic if taken in excess.
• Too much vitamin C can upset the stomach.
• Calcium supplements should be taken with magnesium. Most good calcium supplements already combine them.
• If you're taking a lot of zinc, you might need to take copper as well.
• Iron supplements can reduce the absorption of zinc, so they should not be taken together.
• High doses of iron supplements can reduce the absorption of vitamin E.
• Women on oral contraceptives may benefit from taking coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E supplements. A small study found that the sample group had lower blood levels of coenzyme Q10 (37% lower) and vitamin E (24% lower).

Reduce Your Risk Of Disease With Vitamins

There are a large number of vitamins that have been proven to help reduce the risk of a wide variety of diseases. Alzheimer's, prostate cancer, breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, anemia, and osteoporosis are just a few of the diseases that vitamins can help prevent. Aside from the disease preventive qualities of vitamins, the right amounts can also help you feel energized, improve your vision and strengthen your bones. This article will provide you with a few key vitamins that may just help you prevent some of the most common diseases.

Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's is a serious disease where one's memory becomes impaired and the ability to learn new things or make rational decisions is hindered. Vitamin C and E have both been linked to the prevention of Alzheimer's as well as reducing the rate at which the disease progresses once present. Folic acid has also been linked to the prevention of Alzheimer's, but not real evidence has been revealed. Vitamin C is a common water-soluble vitamin found abundantly in oranges and kiwis and in adequate amounts in bananas, tomatoes, broccoli, blackberries, spinach, potatoes as well as a long list of other fruits and vegetables. Good sources of vitamin E include fortified cereals, apples, meat and poultry. However, if the onset of Alzheimer's has been detected, consult a doctor to see if a vitamin supplement regimen is right for you.

Anemia
One of the most common vitamin deficiencies is an iron deficiency anemia. A lack of iron in your diet can result in listlessness, loss of appetite or headaches. The fastest way to cure this type of anemia may be with iron supplements. However, your diet should be analyzed to fill in with iron rich foods so you can avoid becoming iron deficient in the future.

Iron Free

Heart Disease
There are four main vitamins that are thought to reduce the risk of heart disease, vitamin E, C, A and B3. E, A and B3 are all fat-soluble vitamins, meaning that they are store in your body's fat reserves. If you are taking or plan on taking any of these in large doses, it is important to consult a doctor as an overdose is possible and can be toxic to your body. Vitamin C on the other hand is water-soluble and any excess is excreted on a regular basis. These four vitamins are commonly found in multi vitamins that would give you the extra heart disease preventing dose you are looking for. However, they are all typically found in adequate amounts in a good balanced diet.

Cancer
A well-balanced healthy diet is the first thing to amend when trying to prevent cancer with proper vitamin intake. Artificial ingredients and carcinogenic foods such as charred burgers, mushrooms and overheated fried foods are all factors in the fight to prevent cancer. Once you cut out the undesirable foods, the next step is to figure out what cancer preventing vitamins you are lacking. Folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin B12 and vitamin E are all thought to be possible cancer preventing vitamins. Most of these vitamins can be found in a healthy well balanced diet that may include dark leafy green vegetables, oranges, beans and/or whole grains.

Dietary Sources Of Iron And Folic Acid

Folic acid is a collective term for pteroylglutamic acids and their oligoglutamic acid conjugates. Folic acid deficiency results in macrocytic anemia due to impairment of erythrocyte synthesis and is associated with elevation of plasma homocysteine levels, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including coronary atherosclerosis, stroke, and thromboembolism.

While the dietary sources of folic acid are in abundance, proper care should be taken while cooking. The more you burn the gas the less the nutrients so just try to steam the vegetables. One other way to save the folic acid content is through heating them with as little water as possible. Natural sources of folic acid include whole-grain breads and cereals, orange juice, kidney beans, yeast, liver, and dark green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, kale, and spinach.

Folic acid and cobalamin (vitamin B12) serve as components of coenzymes in 1-carbon reactions such as the methylation of homocysteine to methionine. Other sources would include citrus fruits and juices, dried beans and peas, fortified breads, cereals, lentils, legumes, peanuts, whole grain products, beef, chicken, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, spring greens, kale, okra and fresh peas and the pulses are chickpeas, black-eyed beans, and lentils. Neural tube birth defects during pregnancy are prevented by use of folic acid supplements.

Iron Is A Metallic

Iron is a metallic element that occurs in the heme of hemoglobin, myoglobin, transferrin, ferritin, and iron-containing porphyrins, and is an essential component of enzymes such as catalase, peroxidase, and the various cytochromes. Its salts are used medicinally. Non-heme iron derives itself from plant and animal tissues and from hemoglobin and myoglobin.

Iron deficiency can result in anemia. Iron supplements form an important part of the diet in women during the pregnancy period. It is for a fact that the iron stores could be stabilized in the body easily by ingesting meat products than the vegetables, but still there are a lot number of iron resources than one could imagine in the vegan part too.

Natural dietary sources of heme iron would include beef, meat, fish, poultry, liver, eggs, pork, red meat, and turkey. To see it in a vegetarian way, non-heme iron would include whole meal breads, apricots, kidney beans, and spinach. Other sources of iron would include fortified greens, tomato, potato, green and red chillies, fortified breads, cereals, beans, and legumes. The following have the much-needed iron extracts to fill the iron reserves in human body and they include shellfish, shrimp, clams, mussels, oysters, lean meats, beef, and liver, ready-to-eat cereals with added iron, turkey dark meat, sardines, cooked dry beans, pinto beans, peas, black-eyed peas, seaweed, dried fruits, pulses, wheat germ, bran, yeast, nuts, seeds, parsley, molasses, jaggery, and enriched and whole grain breads.

What Vitamins Does My Child Need?

As long as your child is eating a well-balanced meal from the Food Guide Pyramid, they probably do not need any supplement minerals or vitamins. However, if you have a picky eater on your hands it will not hurt to give them a multi-vitamin that includes the items they need. In addition, children that do not drink at least 17 ounces of Vitamin D fortified milk will need Vitamin D supplements or calcium.

Iron is a very important mineral that prevents anemia. Sources for iron include meats, legumes, fish, fortified foods such as cereals and breads. When girls begin to have their period they will more than likely need an iron supplement.
Some examples of vitamins that include iron are Flintstones Children's Chewable Multivitamin plus Iron, Poly-Vi-Sol Vitamin Drops with Iron, Pokemon Children's Multiple Vitamin with Iron, Fer-In-Sol Iron Supplement Drops and Feosol Tablets and Caplets.

Calcium is important for healthy bones and teeth. Children that do not drink milk or eat dairy products such as ice cream, cheese, and yogurt may need this mineral supplement. Children that have an allergy to milk or milk products will more than likely need a supplement with calcium. However, remember even calcium supplements will not give your child enough calcium for their growing bodies; they will also need calcium fortified foods such as calcium fortified orange juice. Some good vitamins or supplements with calcium include Calcium Gummy Bears, Herbasaurs Calcium for Kids, Flintstones Children's Chewable Multivitamin plus Calcium, and Scooby-Doo! plus Calcium.

Multivitamins For Children

Fluoride is very important for the growth of your childs teeth. If you want your child to have healthy teeth then they should be drinking fluoridated water. If they drink plenty of tap water in most towns and cities across the US, they are more than likely receiving enough fluoride. If you are not sure if your water contains fluoride, you can give them bottled water, which includes fluoride. There are a few fluoride supplements that are very good for giving your child what they may be lacking; however, too much fluoride can stain their teeth. If you need a fluoride supplement then you should purchase Poly-Vi-Flor.

If you would rather use multivitamins, you can rest assured that most infant multivitamins include Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D. They also have other vitamins and minerals such as iron, niacin, pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamine, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin E. Some of the most popular infant multivitamins include Tri-Vi-Sol Drops, Poly-Vi-Sol Drops, and Gerber Vitamin Drops.

Multivitamins for older children are usually in chewable form and contain the same vitamins and minerals only regulated for the growing child. Some of the most recommended include Centrum Kids Chewable Vitamins, Flintstones Children's Chewable Multivitamin, Pokemon Children's Vitamins, Bugs Bunny Children's Vitamins and Scooby-Doo! Complete Multivitamin.