What Is Iron? Where Is It Found? And, What Does It Do?

What Is Iron?

Iron is a mineral found in every cell of the body. It is considered an essential mineral because it is needed to make hemoglobin, a part of blood cells.

What Does Iron Do?

As a trace mineral in the body, iron provides the necessary transport means for moving oxygen throughout body.

Iron is an important component of hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to transport it throughout your body. Once the oxygen is delivered, the iron (as part of haemoglobin) binds the carbon dioxide which is then transported back to the lung from where it gets exhaled. Hemoglobin represents about two-thirds of the body’s iron. 

Without healthy red blood cells, your body can't get enough oxygen, which can cause you to become fatigued.

Furthermore, iron is necessary to maintain healthy cells, skin, hair, and nails and it is also involved in the conversion of blood sugar to energy.

The production of enzymes (which play a vital role in the production of new cells, amino acids, and hormones) also depends on iron. 

Where is Iron found?

Iron that aides in dietary balance is found in both meat and plant products that can be consumed. Iron that is absorbed through meat products is usually more effective, however, plant-based iron, which combined with vitamin C can also be extremely effective. Some of the most common iron-rich products include: oats, legumes, spinach, poultry, fish and meats.