Iron – Why it’s So Important for Athletes If you’re an athlete, you know how important good nutrition is for your performance and general health. Many athletes monitor their intake of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. However, several fail to pay attention to their intake of micronutrients. Not getting enough of these micronutrients however, can have a significant impact on your overall performance. Why iron is so important: Iron plays a key role in many processes in the body. One of its major roles is transporting oxygen in the body. This is especially important for athletes who are engaged in strenuous physical activities. Their muscles demand greater supplies of oxygen to continue to produce energy and sustain performance. Athletes, especially those in endurance sports, experience an increase in the total mass of red blood cells as well as in hemoglobin in order to meet their body’s greater demand for oxygen and energy. This results in an increase in demand for iron.