Iron and your health
Fatigue is usually not related to a shortage of iron. In adults, iron deficiency is most common in women of childbearing age. Anemia caused by low iron does become more common with aging, affecting 10% or more of people 65 and older. This is sometimes caused by internal bleeding related to cancer or gastrointestinal disease. Most people can meet their daily iron needs from food. Red meat, poultry, eggs, and fish supply the most iron per serving. Plant foods also supply iron, but in a form that is harder for the body to absorb. People who eat few or no animal foods need to compensate by eating a larger amount of iron-rich plant foods, such as leafy greens, legumes, whole grains, and mushrooms. Foods fortified artificially with iron also help Americans to meet their iron needs.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Source matters. Subscribe to HarvardHealthOnline+ FREE for 30 days for unlimited access to the site – where all content is reviewed by an HMS physician or faculty expert.
With HHO+ you get these exclusive benefits:
- Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
- 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
- Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
- In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
- Interactive features like videos and quizzes
- Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources
SPECIAL OFFER! UNLOCK EXPERT ACCESS for 30 days FREE!
Already a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
