Iron-Rich Foods Can Benefit The Health Of Your Whole Body

There are many reasons why people may be seeking to add more iron into their diets, not least of which because it's something we all need every day to help build red blood cells and oxygenate the body.

But there's a problem of low iron that's spreading throughout North America — according to 2011 data from Statistics Canada, approximately five per cent of Canadians aged 3 to 79 had low serum ferritin concentrations, which suggests low iron in the body.

Finding ways to add this essential mineral to your diet is actually quite easy, as it's contained in foods as varied as beans to meats to leafy greens. However, Dietitians of Canada points out iron from plant-based foods is sometimes not absorbed by our bodies as well as from animal food sources, so vegetarians might need to take supplements to ensure they have the proper levels.

Fatigue is the most commonly noted symptom of iron deficiency, while others include shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, feeling cold in your extremities and feeling weak, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

According to Dietitians of Canada, men aged 19 and older should take in 8 mg of iron per day, while for women aged 19 to approximately 50, it's 18 mg per day (due to blood lost during menstrual periods). Pregnant women are advised to take in 27 mg of iron a day, and no one should have more than 45 mg per day.

So how do you get all of this iron into your diet? Check out the foods below, and how much they contain — and try to remember to make them a regular part of your meals: