Pulse on Health
Issue 1, April 2014
Wellness tips for a healthy lifestyle
Tired? It could be iron deficiency.
F
or decades, women have bonded over a common issue:
I’m exhausted and just can’t keep up
They’ve chalked it up to the crazy pace of a modern life of checking homework and making a grocery list while tomorrow’s lunch is being made, dinner is in the oven and emails get checked by the pile of laundry. But what if there’s more to feeling exhausted than too much to do? What if it’s nutritional? Few women in their childbearing years are getting the recommended 18 mg a day of iron from their diet and once an iron deficiency takes hold, it can be hard to reverse. With 1 in 4 North American women experiencing an iron deficiency, getting tested can be just what you need to stop it in its tracks. If left unchecked, iron deficiency can move from exhaustion to PMS, depression and fertility issues.
Breakfast Energy Smoothie • 1 Tbsp Udo’s Oil
TM
• 1 banana • 1 cup almond or rice milk
Your health care practitioner can arrange a simple serum ferritin test that will tell you if your body’s iron stores are dropping. To help combat that possible deficiency, turn to iron-rich foods like eggs, dark leafy greens, beans and legumes and consider an easily absorbed liquid iron and vitamin supplement, such as Floradix® Liquid Iron and Vitamin Formula.
• 2 Tbsp organic Greek yogurt
Did you know? Your serum ferritin test will provide a value stated as an ng amount per ml. While the normal range for men is 12 to 300 ng/ml and for women is 12 to 150 ng/ml, what is normal for you may be different. Discuss the results with your health care practitioner.
• 10 ml Floradix® Liquid Iron and Vitamin Formula
Do you suffer from? ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■
Fatigue Pale skin Dark circles under eyes Catching cold easily Trouble concentrating
THE MORE BO ES YOU CHECKED, THE HIGHER YOUR RISK OF BEING
IRON DEFICIENT.
• 1 Tbsp Salus® Red Beet Crystals • 1 Tbsp protein powder of your choice
Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Drink immediately and enjoy the energy! * note – while taking calcium at the same time as iron can impact iron’s absorbability, the small amount of calcium in this smoothie is unlikely to cause any decrease in absorption.