Iron is an essential nutrient; your body needs iron to help carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of your body and helps produce energy. When you aren’t consuming or absorbing enough iron, there can be significant consequences to your health, energy levels, appearance, ability to concentrate, and so forth. There are a few … Continue reading Symptoms or Winter Blahs?
The holiday season is upon us and this often means many parties, potlucks, and social gatherings. So, if you’re going to bring a yummy treat to share, why not give the gift of iron? Here are a few ideas for you: BLACK BEAN CAKE (1 cup black beans = 9.7 mg of iron) Substituting black … Continue reading 5 Iron-Rich Snacks & Treats for Holiday Parties
The Three Stages of Iron Deficiency
Looking back, I think the most frustrating thing was that everyone kept saying, “Well, you have to deal with the idea that you are getting old”. I knew that I was pushing 60, but I wasn’t quite ready to just kick back and accept that the way I was feeling was entirely normal. Ever since … Continue reading Ralph’s Story: Preparing for Surgery
Content and advice provided on The Iron Maiden is for information purposes only and should not serve as a substitute for a licensed health care provider, who is knowledgeable about an individual’s unique health care needs. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the individual authors and does not necessarily reflect … Continue reading Happy 10 Months: The Iron Maiden’s Top 10 Articles
June 21st 2015 was Father’s Day. I truly miss mine. If you are fortunate to still have your father in your life, please let him know how you feel. Not just on Father’s Day, but at every opportunity you have. A father is not necessarily part of your procreation, but someone who has taken the time … Continue reading Thanks Dad!
Ring those bells. Next week is the last week of the school year! Did you know that kids are a risk group for iron deficiency? As your kids count down the minutes until the final bell, here are some tips to ensure your child is meeting their iron needs this summer: Got a picky eater? … Continue reading School is (almost) out for the summer
Many of the symptoms related to iron deficiency can be attributed to other causes in today’s often busy lifestyle. You may not even realize that you or a loved one could be iron deficient. Here’s a quick snapshot and a link to a symptoms checker for adults. Be sure to share with your friends! Content … Continue reading Could it be iron deficiency?
Sunday, June 14th is World Blood Donor Day as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO). I’ve written in the past about my need for blood donation and the importance of post-donation iron supplementation for those who donate blood regularly. For those who donate blood, I am forever grateful for your help when I was … Continue reading World Blood Donor Day
Children are our future, and we want to give them the best possible shot to be all they can be. However, you’d be surprised to find out that a good number of our young people are actually iron deficient! Based on small recent studies, it’s estimated that almost 12-64% of them are iron deficient! Is … Continue reading Let’s Talk Kids…
Here are five fast facts about iron deficiency that you may not have known: Approximately 5% of Canadian children aged 1 to 5 suffer from iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. Is your child at risk? Hemoglobin levels of 12 – 17 g/dl for females and 13 – 18 g/dl for males is considered normal. … Continue reading Five Fast Facts about Iron Deficiency
Summer is here! Like me, I’m sure you’re ready to say goodbye to winter and finally enjoy the hot weather. As we head into summer weekends, here are some ideas on ways to enjoy the food, fun and sun while making sure you and your family are keeping up your iron intake. Enhance Absorption with … Continue reading Iron Intake on Summer Weekends
You know those days where fatigue just gets the better of you and you spend your day feeling sluggish and unable to concentrate? If you were up late the night before or have had an especially hard and stressful week, then having a day like this may feel pretty normal. But, if you can’t pinpoint … Continue reading Iron Deficiency: From Symptoms to Supplements
Throughout the month of May we are honouring women – mothers in particular. Moms do A LOT for their families, and it’s important that they take time for themselves once in a while and ensure that their health is in check too! Iron deficiency can affect one’s entire family, but women and children are among … Continue reading Iron Articles Just for Mom
My name is Esther – I have been married for 8 years to a very thoughtful and loving husband, Steven, and we were blessed with our beautiful daughter in 2013. That may sound like a "happily ever after story," but life is not without struggle and I would like to share mine with you. For … Continue reading Esther’s Story: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Lead to Iron Deficiency
My goal is and always has been to empower my patients to be health care consumers rather than be consumed by health care. It is so important to be well informed and contribute to the process that determines the direction one’s care takes. This is why I am so happy to use this platform to … Continue reading The Iron Maiden: The 10 Most Popular Posts
Even though you may not be eating meat – or as much meat as the average person – iron deficiency doesn’t have to be a problem. The risk of having low iron is definitely higher when you cut (or limit) meat from your diet, since the heme iron found in meat is easier to absorb … Continue reading Top 12 Iron-Rich Foods for Vegans & Vegetarians
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while then chances are that you’ve seen a mention or two about iron absorption inhibitors, including calcium. This is a bit of a controversial topic since some say that calcium greatly impacts iron absorption and others say it doesn’t. It can get a little confusing when you’re … Continue reading The Calcium Controversy: Does it Inhibit Iron Absorption or Not?
When it comes to iron deficiency – everything from diagnosis to treatment – there are a few things that you should definitely do. So, without further ado, let’s get to the 5 Dos that can help you take control of this all-too-common (yet preventable) health issue. When it comes to iron deficiency: DO: Know … Continue reading Iron Deficiency: 5 Things You Should Do
As a parent, you can’t help but be tickled pink when your child is a good sleeper. Getting enough sleep is important for them (and you!), but if your child seems to be sleeping an awful lot, then there might be a problem. There’s a difference between sleeping through the night and having chronic fatigue, … Continue reading Is Your Child Overly Tired and Sleeping A Lot? It Might Be Iron Deficiency…