Earlier this week, news broke that an estimated quarter of all women suffer from iron-deficiency anemia. Is taking iron tablets the solution then? And which supplement is the best choice?
Iron tablets for women
Iron deficiency is on the rise in both men and women due to our modern eating habits. How does this happen? First, it's good to know that vitamin C is the co-factor for iron. This means that the body needs vitamin C for iron absorption. In the time of hunters and gatherers, this was well-regulated: they primarily ate meat (iron) and fruit (vitamin C).
However, nowadays we eat increasingly more plant-based foods, grains, sugars, and processed foods. Women, in particular, face the consequences.
Menstruation and iron
On average, a woman loses 40 milliliters of blood per menstruation. In some cases, this can increase to 100 or even 200 milliliters of blood per menstruation. While women in prehistoric times had about 160 periods in their lifetime (as they often had multiple children and breastfed for longer periods), women today have about 450 periods in their lifetime. This is a significant difference in blood loss.
It is therefore not surprising that many women unfortunately experience iron deficiency, including during pregnancy. Monitoring this is of great importance. Furthermore, eating enough iron-rich foods is incredibly important, but if you do not eat animal products, iron tablets can offer a solution.
What is Iron Bisglycinate?
Iron is one of the most common elements on earth; it helps in the formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin. It is found in red meat, fish, and poultry, but also in plant-based products such as bread, whole grain products, legumes, nuts, and various green vegetables. Iron bisglycinate is a well-absorbable and organic form that is gentle on the stomach. This supplement also contains vitamin C to support iron absorption.
The benefits of iron:
- Iron contributes to the normal formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin.
- Iron contributes to normal cell division, plays a role in (the process of) tissue growth and development, it contributes to normal memory, learning ability, and concentration.
- Iron supports energy metabolism.
- Iron has a positive effect on the immune system.
- Iron contributes to good resistance.
- Iron has a beneficial effect on the reduction of fatigue.
- Iron has a beneficial effect on normal oxygen transport in the body.
We have added vitamin C to our iron bisglycinate supplement, which is important for iron absorption. This is an important water-soluble vitamin with antioxidant properties. Vitamin C helps protect healthy body cells, helps release energy from food, is important for the nervous system, supports the body's defenses, and contributes to brain and nerve functions involved in learning and reasoning.
Benefits of vitamin C:
- Vitamin C is important for blood vessels.
- Vitamin C helps protect healthy body cells.
- Vitamin C helps release energy from food.
- Vitamin C is important for the nervous system.
- Vitamin C supports the body's defenses.
- Vitamin C contributes to brain and nerve functions involved in learning and reasoning.
