IRON

Purifies the Blood

The haemoglobin content of the red blood cells is made up of certain protein and iron.

Iron is stored in the liver, spleen, and intestinal mucosa. The stores of iron as well as iron released from the disintegration of red blood cells is available to the body for the synthesis of haemoglobin. Hence the iron in our bodies is used very efficiently, and is not normally used up or destroyed but converted and utilised again and again.

Functions in the Body

Iron is essential for life. It is necessary for the production of haemoglobin. Heamoglobin is composed of four iron-containing heme groups. The heme is responsible for characteristic colour and the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Iron thus enables the blood to carry oxygen throughout the body and is of great value in helping to remove carbon dioxide from the tissues. Myoglobin (an oxygen-carrying protein containing iron) in the muscle tissue is related to blood haemoglobin in both structure and function. It supplies oxygen to the muscles and removes carbon dioxide. Iron increases resistance to stress and disease. It aids growth and prevents fatigue.

Sources

The best food sources of iron are wholegrain cereals, pulses and legumes, and fish. The best plant sources are green leafy vegetables such as dry lotus stems, cauliflower greens, and turnip greens; fruits such as black currents, watermelons, raisins, and dried dates.

Deficiency Symptoms

Iron deficiency is generally caused by severe blood loss, malnutrition, infections, and by excessive use of drugs and chemicals. Severe blood loss can occur due to a major injury to blood vessels, or rupture of aneurysms, perforation of internal organs, incomplete abortion, and severe menstrual bleeding. Repeated pregnancies, prolonged breast feeding, and excessive sweating during summer also reduces the iron content in the blood. The volume of fluid in the body is also reduced.

Deficiency of iron in the diet may cause nutritional anaemia, lowered resistance to disease, a general run-down condition, pale complexion, shortness of breath on manual exertion, and loss of interest in sex. The patient may suffer from mental depression and irritability.

Healing and Therapeutic Properties

Eating foods rich in iron regularly and keeping the gastro-intestinal tract healthy is one of the safest and more potent methods of preventing iron deficiency. 

Different types of anaemias may be due to different causes. However only iron-deficiency anaemia responds to supplementary intake of iron.

Precautions :

Iron stored in the body in excess quantity is harmful.