{"id":20606,"date":"2022-01-11T16:02:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-11T21:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peachvitamins.com\/learn\/?p=20606"},"modified":"2022-01-12T12:27:20","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T17:27:20","slug":"reasons-for-low-iron-levels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peachvitamins.com\/learn\/reasons-for-low-iron-levels\/","title":{"rendered":"Reasons For Low Iron Levels: What Happens If You Don’t Get Enough Iron?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Your body needs iron for several reasons, including making new red blood cells. They carry oxygen throughout the body by transporting it through the blood vessels. Vitamin C helps your body absorb more iron from foods such as red meat and beans. Orange juice and broccoli help too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Low iron <\/a>levels can be a common problem for many of us. But why does it happen, and how can we get the proper levels of iron? What are the options available to get them back on track? You might find this article interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Why<\/a>
Why Would A Man Have Low Iron<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

 Iron Deficiency Anemia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Iron absorption depends on multiple factors, such as hemoglobin, ferritin, and vitamin C. Eating foods rich in both vitamin C and zinc helps boost absorption rates for these nutrients. However, if you have an iron deficiency, your body will not absorb it efficiently even if you consume mixed source iron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When iron is deficient, your body cannot produce enough hemoglobin. Because there\u2019s not enough oxygen-carrying around the body, blood flow slows down. It could lead to tiredness, weakness, shortness of breath, palpitations, and other symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most important thing to remember about getting enough iron is to eat plenty of foods rich in vitamin C and zinc. Sources of iron include orange juice, broccoli, spinach, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, tofu, tomatoes, peppers, avocados, and strawberries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may have heard that vegetarians don\u2019t need to worry about getting enough iron because they tend to eat lots of iron-rich plant foods. However, vegans do still need to take supplements if they want to avoid iron deficiencies. Vegans often choose to take a supplement containing only non-heme iron. Heme iron is more challenging for us to absorb than non-heme iron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"What<\/a>
What Causes Low Iron Levels In Males<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Iron Deficiency Anemia In Women: What Causes Iron Levels to Go Low?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The risk of iron deficiency increases during pregnancy. A study published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology<\/strong><\/a> showed that nearly half of pregnant women had low iron levels. Another study published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology showed that almost 60 percent of pregnant women were at risk of developing anemia. Iron deficiency affects approximately 20 percent of pregnancies in the United States. Many doctors recommend that pregnant women take prenatal vitamins containing iron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women who are breastfeeding are also at high risk <\/a>of iron deficiency. Breast milk contains minimal amounts of iron, so your body needs to store up iron reserves to meet its daily requirement. Your baby also gets iron from breast milk, so it is essential to keep your iron levels healthy while breastfeeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"What<\/a>
What Causes Low Iron Deficiency<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Other Causes Of Low Iron Levels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some other conditions can cause low iron levels. They include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hemochromatosis \u2013 a genetic disorder that makes the body hold onto too much iron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chronic kidney disease \u2013 a condition where the kidneys fail over time. It causes low blood pressure<\/a>, leading to poor kidney function and less protein in the urine. Proteinuria can interfere with iron absorption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celiac Disease \u2013 an autoimmune disease that damages the lining of the small intestine. People with celiac disease usually develop diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss after eating gluten. Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liver cirrhosis \u2013 a condition where scar tissue forms inside the liver. Scarring reduces blood flow, and nutrients reach the liver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pernicious Anemia \u2013 a condition that causes the stomach to make fewer cells. Pernicious anemia occurs when the body does not produce sufficient amounts of vitamin B12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vitamin D Deficiency \u2013 a lack of vitamin D in the body can cause low iron levels. Vitamin D helps regulate calcium metabolism and bone health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lactose Intolerance \u2013 a digestive problem caused by the inability of the body to digest lactose. Lactose intolerance can reduce the ability of the gastrointestinal tract to absorb iron from food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thyroid Problems \u2013 Thyroid problems can lead to low iron levels. Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland produces insufficient amounts of hormones. Medications are available to treat it. Another type of thyroid disorder is hyperthyroidism. The thyroid gland produces too much hormone. Thyroid hormone production can change how well the body absorbs iron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"What<\/a>
What Causes Iron Deficiency Without Anemia<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How Is Iron Deficiency Anemia Treated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you think your iron levels might be low, your doctor will probably first try to treat you for an infection. Other treatment options include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n