If you suspect that you may be iron deficient, get yourself to the doctor for proper diagnosis! Knowing what questions to ask, about everything from testing to supplementing your iron, can help you get to the bottom of your symptoms so that you can start feeling like yourself again.
While most people know that they need iron, few actually understand just how essential it is to our physical and mental health. Here is a quick lesson in iron to help you better understand its importance for well-being.
Earlier this year I had the privilege of working on a project for Canadian Health & Family, hosted by Dr. Marla Shapiro, for a segment called Understanding and Treating Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia – maybe you’ve seen this segment which originally aired on CTV, or you’ve seen it playing in waiting rooms across Canada!
If your child is diagnosed with iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia, a doctor will likely recommend using an iron supplement as well as increasing the amount of iron rich foods in his/her diet. Iron supplementation can be a bit tricky in children. Let’s face it; kids can be finicky so trying to get them to eat foods that are rich in iron can be hard enough, let alone trying to get them to take an iron supplement.
While I have previously discussed the signs and symptoms of iron deficiency, I would like to introduce you to the Iron Deficiency/Iron Deficiency Anemia Symptoms Checker!
Many of the symptoms related to iron deficiency can be attributed to other causes in today’s often busy lifestyle. However, when there is a collection of specific symptoms, it would be in your best interest to check with your physician and exclude iron deficiency as a cause.
Often, a person’s anemia is found through routine screening at the doctor’s office or after they begin to experience the symptoms of iron deficiency, commonly fatigue. Iron deficiency anemia doesn’t just happen though, but rather progresses through different stages that take it from iron depletion to full-blown anemia.
When diagnosed with iron deficiency, you’re bound to be told to eat more iron-rich foods, but what does that actually mean for you and your grocery shopping list? What should you be looking for? Well, that’s what I’ll answer for you right here.
Anytime we’re told to alter our diets, for medical reasons or otherwise, we’re quick to think “yuck” and assume that meal time is going to become a bit of a pain in the you-know-what. And with the holidays fast approaching, you may be worrying about what that will do to your family gatherings. Thankfully, increasing the amount of iron-rich foods in your diet doesn’t mean having to forego all of your holiday favourites or subjecting your guests to a less-than-appetizing feast.
This past Saturday I had the honour of speaking with a group of amazing people, The Coalition of Bariatric Patients of Southern Ontario (CBPSO), at their annual meet and greet held this year in Paris, Ontario. This is the second year I have been asked to speak on the topic of iron deficiency and how it relates to the Bariatric patient. This is a topic near and dear to my heart, not only because I have a specific interest in patients with iron deficiency related to malabsorption, but because I am one of them. Continue reading
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficit in the world as well as the leading cause of anemia. Let’s take a look at whom iron deficiency is affecting with some interesting statistics, from Canada and the world.