Iron and Vitamin C work hand in hand to help your body function at its best.
This is because Iron is essential for providing energy, and Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that can strengthen your immune system and helps your body absorb minerals, including Iron.
We’ve found 3 things you might not know about these important vitamins and minerals.
1. Your diet may affect iron absorption more than you think
Before changing your diet completely, you may want to check what you're eating and ensure that nothing in your diet stops your body from absorbing Iron.
Some highly loved drinks that can reduce your body's ability to absorb Iron include tea, coffee and wine 1. These drinks contain tannins, which reduce your ability to absorb Iron by binding to the Iron and carrying it out of the body.
Other foods that can reduce Iron absorption include soy proteins (tofu or soymilk), calcium (milk or cheese) and phosphorus (seafood or sunflower and pumpkin seeds), which can reduce Iron absorption from plant sources 1.
2. You can increase the amount of Iron and Vitamin C you get from the food you eat
By being mindful of your food choices and eating a balanced diet, you can be sure you're doing what you can to increase your blood's Iron and Vitamin C levels.
You can do this by choosing Iron-rich foods, which include 1:
- Seafood
- Red meat, pork and poultry
- Dark green leafy vegetables, including spinach
- Peas
You can also choose to eat foods that contain a high level of Vitamin C to enhance your Iron absorption, which include 2:
- Citrus fruits, including oranges, grapefruit, lemon, kiwi fruit, strawberries and guava
- Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage
Including Vitamin C in your everyday diet is essential, as your body can't store it like it can with Iron.
3. You can take a supplement if you’re not getting enough Vitamin C or Iron through your diet
If you don't include enough Iron in your diet, your body's Iron stores lower over time. Low Iron stores can cause Iron deficiency anaemia, where your haemoglobin levels are so low that your body cannot deliver enough oxygen to your blood cells 1.
Some symptoms of Iron deficiency anaemia include dizziness, fatigue and breathlessness.
If you have been diagnosed with Iron deficiency anaemia, your doctor will recommend Iron supplements, which can help boost your Iron levels. Ferrogen Iron + Vitamin C tablets are formulated to prevent and treat Iron deficiency, with Vitamin C to enhance Iron absorption.
Please remember to talk to your Pharmacist or doctor before adding vitamins or supplements to your diet, as it may clash with other medications you take, or you may not need to include the supplement in your diet.
Always read the label and follow the directions for use before taking Ferrogen.
References
1 Better Health Victoria, Iron and Iron deficiency , accessed 22nd January 2024
2Healthdirect, Foods high in Vitamin C , accessed 22nd January 2024