Sometimes I wonder if I'm getting enough iron in my diet. Fatigue, poor concentration, and reduced work performance can all result from low levels of iron, a key oxygen-carrier in the body. An iron deficiency can also lead to poor regulation of body temperature and suppressed immunity, which increases susceptibility to infections and disease. These symptoms can be so subtle that a woman who feels sluggish may reach for a cup of coffee, when her real problem could be iron.
Women are at greater risk for iron deficiency than men.
Women need nearly twice as much iron each day, yet most consume less food and consequently less iron. Symptoms don't appear until iron reserves in the tissues have been drained. A woman concerned about the possibility of anemia should consider asking her doctor for more sensitive tests for tissue iron levels. Women who exercise more than three hours a week, have been pregnant in the past two years, or consume fewer than 2,500 calories daily are at particular risk. Premenopausal women should eat several servings each day of foods rich in iron, including dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, and prunes.