Vitamin Supplements

Before you decide that you need to take iron supplements or change the way you eat, you should know where you stand and how much improvement you really need. To help you analyze your current diet, we’ve developed a system you can use to calculate your approximate iron intake. Our ODA for men is 10 mg; for women, it ranges from 12 to 15 mg, rising to 20 mg for women with heavy menstrual flow. For the purposes of this test, we have used an ODA of 15 mg.

To determine your average daily intake of iron, start by keeping an accurate food diary for three or four days. The longer you keep the diary, the more accurate your calculations will be. Write down exactly what you eat and drink, together with an estimate of the serving size. Read the rest of this entry »

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you (or your child) have an above-average risk of developing an iron deficiency.

• Are you pregnant, or have you recently delivered a baby? During pregnancy, the fetus and placenta demand a great deal of iron from your body. Blood loss during childbirth can also lead to an iron deficiency. Read the rest of this entry »