Iron facts,
what you need to know
Why is iron important?
Iron is essential to life. It contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue and also plays an important role in normal energy metabolism, oxygen transport, cognitive function, immune function and formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin.
Can I always get enough iron from my food?
You can get iron from food, but depending on the type, it may not be absorbed well and it may not be sufficient to meet your requirements. There are two types of iron found in the diet, non-haem and haem. Non-haem iron is found in plants, nuts and legumes. This is absorbed at a much lower rate than haem iron, which is found in animal products such as meat, especially red meat. It’s important to remember that even if you are making a conscious effort to ingest more haem iron, by eating meat, other daily habits like drinking tea and coffee after your meals can reduce iron absorption and reduce your iron intake.