When we say “pump iron,” we’re guessing the first thing your brain jumps to is lifting weights. The Rock-style (ahem, or shall we sayMichelle Obama-style?!) hardcore strength training.
Diving into data from that nearly two-decade timespan, the researchers determined that part of this drop in iron consumption is due to the fact that many of us are eating moreplant-based menus. The United States Department of Agriculture’sNational Nutrient Database for Standard Referencereports that in 2018, compared to 1999, there was:
In addition to eating less iron-rich beef (whether due to environmental concerns, health implications about eating copious amounts of red meat, animal welfare or other considerations), the beef we are eating may have lower naturally present iron levels than in years past. In fact, the scientists determined that 62% of iron-containing foods contained less of the mineral in 2015 than in 1999—and this is likely the one of the main reasons more Americans are falling into the category of “anemic.”
And that anemic state isn’t doing our energy levels (or overall well-being) any favors.Humans require ironfor proper growth, to make hemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells that helps transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body) and for hormone production.
25 Recipes to Boost Your Iron Intake
Iron comes in two forms:
The body can process and use both, but what you pair with either form of iron can max out the potential body benefits. Phytates, which are found in grains and beans, may limit iron’s bioavailability, whilevitamin C-rich foods(such as watermelon, bell peppers, citrus fruits, kiwi and broccoli) can help the body put non-heme iron from plants to better use. (Psst … Beef-free eaters, we’ve got your back with this list of8 foods with more iron than beef.)
The researchers believe the focus on growing more crops per acre might be affecting the nutritional value of the food we eat directly as well as the food we feed farm animals (which we then may eat). Plus, many Americans are eating more processed foods, which can increase the risk for iron-deficiency anemia as well.
As we continue to learn more about this research and adjust our diets to be more iron-smart, keep these7 sneaky signs you could have iron deficiencyin mind so you know if you might need to schedule a chat with your doctor to test your iron levels.
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