What is iron?
Iron is a mineral that our bodies need for growth and development. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells. Hemoglobin carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. Iron is also important for healthy muscles, bone marrow, and organ function. Your body also needs iron to make some hormones.
How do you get iron?
Iron is found naturally in many foods and is added to some fortified food products. Foods that are high in iron include:
- Iron (National Library of Medicine)What is iron? Iron is a mineral that our bodies need for growth and development. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood ... the lungs to all parts of the body. Iron is also important for healthy muscles, bone marrow, ...
- Hemochromatosis (National Library of Medicine)Hemochromatosis is a disease in which too much iron builds up in your body. Your body needs iron but too much of it is toxic. If you have hemochromatosis, you absorb more iron than you need. Your body has no natural ...
- Anemia (National Library of Medicine)... common cause of anemia is not having enough iron. Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that gives the red color to ...
- Iron Tests What are iron tests? Iron tests measure different substances in the blood to check iron levels in your body. Iron is a mineral ... levels) are working. Why do I need an iron test? You may need testing if you have ...
- Iron-refractory iron deficiency anemia is one of many types of anemia, which is a group of conditions characterized by a shortage of healthy red blood cells. ...
- Hypochromic microcytic anemia with iron overload is a condition that impairs the normal transport of iron in cells. Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, ...
- African iron overload is a condition that involves absorption of too much iron from the diet. The excess iron is stored in the body's tissues and organs, particularly ...
- Myopathy with deficiency of iron-sulfur cluster assembly enzyme is an inherited disorder that primarily affects muscles used for movement (skeletal muscles). This ...
- A serum iron test measures how much iron is in your blood. ... The serum iron level can change, depending on how recently you ingested iron. Your health care provider will likely have you ...
- ... There are many types and causes of anemia. Iron deficiency anemia occurs when your body does not have enough iron. Iron helps make red blood cells. Iron deficiency ...