Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Published : July 8, 2014 6:44 PM IST
Although iron can be obtained from several dietary sources, almost 2.5 5 billion people suffer from iron deficiency, making it the most prevalent nutritional deficiency in the world. Iron is an essential mineral that is present in every cell of your body. Here are some important functions it carries out in the body.
1. Helps hemoglobin formation: Hemoglobin is a protein that is required to transport oxygen throughout the body. But without enough iron, the protein cannot be formed. One of the most important functions of iron is to hold the chains of hemoglobin protein together. About 65 to 75 per cent of the total amount of iron in blood is present is the form of hemoglobin.
2. Prevents iron-deficiency anemia: With low levels of iron, the body cannot produce hemoglobin. As a result, the oxygen level in the body starts depleting, causing iron-deficiency anemia. Some classic symptoms of the condition include fatigue, dizziness and weakness. So, to ensure that your dietary intake of iron is adequate, start eating a variety of iron-rich foods like leafy vegetables, beans, whole grains, meat, fish and poultry combined with rich sources of vitamin C.
3. Strengthens immune system: Yourimmune system relies on the stores of iron for optimal functioning as well as for preventing the growth of bacteria. Several proteins and immune cells control iron fluxes in the body such that bacteria are prevented from utilising it for their growth.
4. Prevents sleep disorders: Scientists have now found that adequate levels of iron may be required for preventing sleep problems like restless leg syndrome (uncontrolled, intermittent jerky movements of the legs) and insomnia.
5. Helps muscle function: Like hemoglobin carries oxygen through blood, the muscles require the protein myoglobin for carrying oxygen. This protein carries oxygen from hemoglobin and distributes it throughout the muscle cells.
6. Boosts mental growth: Iron plays an important role in normal neurological functioning since it acts as a co-factor in production of neurotransmitters. Therefore, iron is particularly required in pregnancy, when the development of the baby is solely dependent on the mother's iron supplies. In infants and children, inadequate levels of iron are associated with changes in behavior and lowered cognitive functioning.
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