Iron has many roles in the body, but one of the most important functions is within the body’s red blood cells. The red blood cells carry oxygen to the cells of the body. With an iron deficiency your body cannot make enough red blood cells.
Dr Riana van Zyl, a general paediatrician working at Mediclinic in Bloemfontein, understands the struggles moms go through daily and often, iron deficiency can also be one.
“Iron deficiency is suffering from too low levels of iron in the body. This can be the result of not taking enough iron in your diet, not being able to absorb the iron, or loosing iron through bleeding. This is called iron deficiency anaemia,” said Dr Riana.
The paediatrician mentioned that iron deficiency is very common in children and often goes unnoticed and not diagnosed, because it takes a long time before the anaemia starts causing symptoms and patients seek help.
“If a child has chronic iron deficiency anaemia, it can cause permanent brain damage and these children can present with learning difficulties,” cautioned Dr Riana.
She further recommended that ensuring a balanced diet is key, specifically a diet that ensures enough iron is ingested.
Another cause of iron deficiency is chronic blood loss, which in children can be caused by a worm infestation. It is therefore very important to deworm your family every six months.
It is well known that red meat and liver contains the highest amount of iron, and this is well absorbed by the body. But there are many other iron-rich foods such as eggs, tuna, sardines, dark, leafy green vegetables, tofu, beans and nuts.
Fortunately, Dr Riana added that iron deficiency can be cured but she warned that iron should not be taken with milk, because the calcium inhibits the absorption of iron.
Text: Abigail Visagie Photograph: Gyspeenia Lion
