Importance of Iron1

Iron is a vital mineral the body needs to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the organs.

Iron is an essential constituent of muscles and also supports metabolism and is necessary for growth and development throughout every stage of life. When the body does not have enough iron several organs functions are affected, including one’s overall health and wellbeing.

Recommended Dietary Allowance for Iron1

According to the Canadian Dietary Reference Intake Guidelines the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for iron is:

4-8 Years 9-13 Years 14-18 Years 19-50 Years 51+ Years
Children 10mg/day
Males 8mg/day 11mg/day 8mg/day 8mg/day
Females 8mg/day 15mg/day 18mg/day 8mg/day
Pregnant women 27mg/day

Note: The requirement for iron is 1.8 times higher for vegetarians due to the lower bioavailability of iron from a vegetarian diet.1

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