Iron is one of your body’s most vital nutrients. Since we get iron from our food, a healthy and balanced diet should ensure we absorb enough iron. In some cases, such as during pregnancy or due to a restricted diet, it may be necessary to take a supplement to keep your iron levels up.
However, many people find it difficult to take iron supplements without feeling sick, often experiencing stomach irritation and nausea.
But how can you make sure that supplementing with iron won’t make you feel sick?
This is the question we are going to be answering in this article, but first of all, there are a few things we need to cover:
- Why you need iron
- Where you will find iron in your diet
- How you can maximise iron absorption
- How you can ensure that taking iron supplements won’t make you feel unwell
Active Iron has a clinically proven formula that ensures it works in perfect harmony with your body, while also being kind on your stomach and highly effective. Click here to visit our store and purchase Active Iron.
Let’s get into it!
Why Do You Need Iron?
Iron is an essential building block for forming haemoglobin (red blood cells), which transfers oxygen around our bodies. Iron also plays a vital role in cognitive function, immune function, and energy production in our bodies. Maintaining healthy iron levels helps reduce tiredness and fatigue¹.
People who are most likely to benefit from iron supplements are:
- Pregnant and post-natal women
- Women with periods
- People over the age of 65
- Athletes and heavy exercisers
- Those with restricted diets, such as vegetarians
How Can You Get More Iron in Your Diet?
There are two types of iron:
- Haem iron, which is most commonly found in meat, fish, and poultry.
- Non-haem iron, which is found in plant-based foods such as legumes, nuts, and vegetables.
Your body absorbs haem iron more easily than it does non-haem iron.
If you consume more meat, you will likely boost your iron levels more than if you mostly consume non-haem iron from other sources.
However, eating a lot of meat is not the only option for increasing your iron intake – taking an iron supplement can be a helpful addition to a well-balanced diet. It is worth noting that Active Iron is a non-haem iron supplement.
Here is a list of iron-rich foods you can start implementing in your diet right now:
- Beef
- Eggs
- Pork
- Chicken
- Shrimp
- Tuna
- White bread
- Tofu
- Spinach
- Kale
How Is Iron Absorbed in The Body?
When iron enters the stomach, it is exposed to stomach acid and changed into a Fe+3 form. This will need to be converted back into Fe+2 by the body so that it can be absorbed.
The majority of iron is absorbed in the small intestine, specifically the duodenum. As iron enters the mucosal sites of the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine), this is where most of its absorption takes place.
If you are supplementing with iron, it is best to find a supplement that is designed to release at the body’s natural site of absorption rather than one that breaks down completely in the stomach.
How to Take an Iron Supplement Without Causing Gut Irritation
If you want to take an iron supplement without experiencing any nasty side effects, you have to try to ease the iron absorption process.
Here are a few tips that will help you increase your iron absorption and lessen the chances of unwanted side effects after taking an iron supplement:
- If you do not experience any stomach problems, take your iron supplement in the morning and on an empty stomach.
- If you have a sensitive stomach, take iron along with a little food to prevent nausea.
- When you take iron with food, try not to consume milk, calcium, or antacids, and avoid drinking tea and coffee, as this can lower your ability to absorb iron.
- Take iron with a Vitamin C supplement or with orange juice to increase the absorption.
You can follow the above tips and tricks for taking an iron supplement, or, if you are looking for an easier option, we recommend taking Active Iron.
Active Iron is an iron supplement that revolutionises iron absorption and is gentle on your stomach. Providing high-quality iron absorption² and specially formulated to be non-constipating and gentle on the stomach. Active Iron has a ground-breaking whey protein formula that is gentle and non-constipating. Our iron supplements are specifically designed to help reduce side effects, e.g. nausea and constipation.
Active Iron will increase the amount of iron you absorb and reduce the chances of gastrointestinal side effects because it works in tune with your body by targeting your natural site of absorption. Active Iron is recommended by healthcare professionals and loved by consumers.
Conclusion:
- If you want to avoid the side effects that are caused by traditional iron supplements, choose Active Iron.
- Maintaining healthy iron levels can play a big part in how energetic you feel.
- If you constantly feel exhausted, you may be low in iron. Consult your healthcare provider if you have concerns.
- Active Iron has a ground-breaking whey protein formula that works in tune with your body to increase your iron levels, while being gentle on the stomach.
References
- ¹Iron contributes to the normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin, oxygen transport in the body, cognitive function, normal function of the immune system, normal energy-yielding metabolism, and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
- ²Wang et al. 2017, Acta Haematologica, 138: 223-232.
- ³Food supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet & lifestyle. Consult your GP/pharmacist if you have concerns.
