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Wait right there! Thinking of skipping past this article because you don’t exactly consider yourself an athlete? Well, when it comes to iron deficiency in athletes, you don’t need to be a professional athlete or out running regular marathons, recreational athletes should know about the possible risks too. Iron deficiency in athletes is a bit … Continue reading Are Athletes At-Risk for Developing Iron Deficiency?
If your doctor has advised you to take iron, then you’re going to want to take it so that your body gets the most out of the supplement with the least amount of side effects. Here are some tips to help you do just that! 1. Take it With Water Resist the urge to … Continue reading How to Get the Most Out of Your Iron Supplement
Your nails say a lot about your health and doctors have actually looked to patients’ nails for clues about their health for centuries. It may seem like a strange connection, but changes in the visual appearance of your nails can be a sign of iron deficiency. The reason for this is that iron helps to … Continue reading What is Happening to My Nails?
People often ask me how much iron they actually absorb from the food they eat. Well, the truth is that there is no clear cut answer because every body is different. I can, however, provide some helpful information and benchmarks based on the Dietary References Intakes. What Affects Iron Absorption? When we eat food containing … Continue reading How Much Iron is Actually Absorbed?
Happy to see that you’re out of your turkey coma and ready to get back on track with some healthy choices for the New Year! You’re not alone in wanting to eat better – most of us crave a healthier diet after a December of making merry with sweets and other holiday goodies. Even those … Continue reading Adding ‘Superfoods’ to Your Diet in 2015
Are you a vegetarian, vegan, or flexitarian? What’s a flexitarian, you ask? According to the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary that officially listed the word in 2012, a flexitarian is “one whose normally meatless diet occasionally includes meat or fish”, in other words, a semi-vegetarian! With an estimated 4% of Canadians living a vegetarian lifestyle, as many … Continue reading Vegetarian or Vegan Doesn’t Have to Mean Iron Deficiency…
We talk a lot about heme iron and non-heme iron and I know that it can get a little confusing at times. With all the iron supplements and iron-rich foods out there, it can be hard to keep track of what’s what and why some are better than others. So, let’s break it down and … Continue reading Iron 101: Heme Iron vs Non-Heme Iron
Well, it’s that time of year again… the holiday season is upon us! While this is one of my favourite times of the year, there are always a few people on my list that prove difficult to find the ideal gift for. Are you having trouble finding some last-minute items for those tricky people on … Continue reading Last Minute Stocking-Stuffer Ideas
So, you’re in need of an oral iron supplement and head to the pharmacy where you’re greeted by an overwhelming selection. How do you pick the right one without resorting to an impromptu game of eeny, meeny, miny, moe? Keeping in mind that every body is different (and a one-size-fits-all iron supplement does not exist), … Continue reading A Quick & Easy Guide to Choosing the Right Iron Supplement
You know what I love about this time of year? Everything! The cheery music, so many treats, and enjoying laughs with loved ones over delicious meals are all things that make this time of year special. In honor of this wonderful time of the year, today’s post is a little different. I wanted to share … Continue reading 12 Days of Iron-Rich Foods: A Twist on an Old Classic
Baby, it’s cold outside, but if you find yourself feeling cold even when it’s anything but, then this could be a sign of iron deficiency. Your body needs iron to help carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of your body and to help produce energy. Think of your body as a coal furnace … Continue reading Are You Always Cold?
Surprised to see a post about vitamin B12 on an iron deficiency blog? Don’t be! Vitamin B12 actually has quite a lot to do with your blood and iron levels and I’m going to explain just what the relationship is in plain English without all the medical jargon and mumbo jumbo you might find in … Continue reading Vitamin B12 Plays a Role in Iron Deficiency
We all remember that one kid growing up who would gross out the class by eating something that was never meant to be eaten, like dirt or sand at recess. You probably chalked it up to the kid being “weird” or “gross” and likely figured they were just doing it for attention, right? Well, what … Continue reading Unusual Cravings to Consume Ice, Dirt or Clay Could Point to Iron Deficiency Anemia
Each year, Canadian Blood Services (CBS) collects about 950,000 units of blood from approximately 600,000 donors. That’s a lot of blood, and a lot of lives that can be saved because of it! Did you know that a single donation can save up to 3 lives? While donating blood is an extremely generous act to … Continue reading Are You a Blood Donor? You May Need to Replenish Your Iron!
You know how the doctor always stresses that you should finish a round of antibiotics even if you feel better, yet you still sometimes stop the second your symptoms are gone? That’s pretty much how it goes for iron supplements too. People tend to take them as advised because they feel run down, but as … Continue reading So, I’m Feeling Fine… Should I Stop Taking My Iron Supplement?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world as well as the leading cause of anemia. Unfortunately, children are among the most affected and the prevalence of ID and IDA in children is high. The following statistics will give you a better … Continue reading How Many Children Are Iron Deficient?
You probably want to ensure that you get the most out of the iron you consume, whether from iron-rich foods or an iron supplement. Knowing what foods and substances can interfere with your body’s absorption of iron is one way to help you do that, which is exactly what I will outline here. Avoiding Iron … Continue reading Things You Should Avoid When Consuming Iron
You might already know that iron plays an essential role in your child’s health, but did you know that not getting enough of it has the potential to cause life-long issues? Iron helps oxygen move from the lungs to the rest of the body. Thus, iron deficiency can have a lasting impact on your child’s … Continue reading Iron Deficiency Can Affect Your Child’s Cognitive Function
Happy Friday! In light of Patient Blood Management Awareness Week last week, I thought I’d share some interesting and enlightening facts about blood that you probably didn’t know! Please note that this article may not be for the faint of heart... Did you know? The average man has 28,800,000,000,000 red blood cells and the … Continue reading 13 “Bloody” Facts
Last week was Blood Management Awareness Week (November 3 - 7) and, as part of a provincial patient blood management program, I think it’s only fitting to talk about blood management and iron deficiency, specifically how it relates to surgery. Few people realize that their blood health will play an important role when it comes … Continue reading Pre-Op Blood Management Can Aid in a Better Recovery