Iron Matters

When we do not get enough iron, healthy growth and brain development,

mental health, and energy levels all suffer.

NEW research shows more Canadians

have iron deficiency than previously thought.

Iron deficiency is
the most common
nutrient deficiency
in the world and
the only nutrient
deficiency still
prevalent in
industrialized
countries today.

Iron is a mineral
we can't live without.
It’s used to carry oxygen
to your body and brain.²

Canadian research suggests more than half of pregnant women may have low iron.

1 in 4

women age 14-50 have low iron.⁴

Happy Little Kid Boy With Glasses And Backpack Or Satchel. Schoo

Yes, low iron affects males too.

Infant, toddler and school-age boys, and male endurance athletes are at risk for low iron.⁵

Canadian research has found that eating red meat like beef is the strongest dietary predictor associated with better iron status in women.

Different Types Of French Bread Baguettes In Paper Bag Over Whit

Eating higher grains (bread, pasta, rice, cereals) was linked with higher
iron deficiency.

On A Spring Day In Nature, A Loving Father Holds His Little Girl

Iron is critical for brain development which is why babies need almost 40% more iron than a full-grown man.

If you don’t eat meat, fish or poultry, you’ll need almost twice as much iron.

It can take several months to correct low iron.
It’s far better to prevent low iron than try to correct it.

Could Your Nutritional Balance Be Ironed Out?

(Tap the Orange Bands Below to Expand)

Grandparents and parents with a baby girl on mum??s knee

Unwrinkling the Data: Research Raises Alarm on Iron Deficiency in Canada.

FACT: Estimates for iron deficiency in Canada are higher than previously thought.⁴

Find out more…

Is it time to iron out the cause of your symptoms?

FACT: Iron deficiency negatively impacts health and wellbeing.^8-14

Unraveling Iron Deficiency Risks: Are You or a Loved One in the Danger Zone?

FACT: You or someone you love could be at higher risk for iron deficiency.

Iron needs are greatest during periods of growth, for women during childbearing years and for endurance athletes.

Click BELOW to find out more.

Health Canada, Dietary Reference Intakes https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/dietary-reference-intakes/tables/reference-values-elements-dietary-reference-intakes-tables-2005.html

Pressing for Nutrient Power: Why Ironing Out Your Food Choices is Crucial.

FACT: Both the amount and type of iron in food matters.

The iron in animal-based foods such as meat, fish and poultry (heme iron) is better absorbed than the iron in plant foods (tofu, lentils, cereal) and eggs (non-heme iron).² That’s why if you don’t eat meat, fish or poultry, you’ll need almost twice as much iron.²

Health Canada, Canadian Nutrient File, 2015. Food codes: 3053, 3377, 842, 6172. Nutrient amounts rounded as per 2016 CFIA labelling rounding rules. % Daily Values calculated based on Health Canada’s 2016 Nutrition Labelling – Table of Daily Values.

TAP TO TAKE THE QUIZ...

If you answer YES to 2 or more of these questions, you may not be getting enough iron.

• Are you female?

• Do you avoid red meat?

• Do you often skip meals?

• Are you trying to lose weight by eating less?

• Do you usually drink tea or coffee with your meals?

• Do you often have heavy menstrual periods?

Easy, Delicious Recipes And Dietitian Developed Resources Are Just A Click Away!

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Click for References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2021. a.https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/micronutrient-malnutrition/index.html
Institute of Medicine (US) Panel on Micronutrients. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2001. 9, Iron. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK222309/
Teichman J, Nisenbaum R, Lausman A, Sholzberg M. Suboptimal iron deficiency screening in pregnancy and the impact of socioeconomic status in a high-resource setting. Blood Adv. 2021 Nov 23;5(22):4666-4673. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021004352. PMID: 34459878; PMCID: PMC8759118.
Cooper M, Bertinato J, Ennis JK, Sadeghpour A, Weiler HA, Dorais V. Population Iron Status in Canada: Results from the Canadian Health Measures Survey 2012-2019. J Nutr. 2023 May;153(5):1534-1543. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.03.012. Epub 2023 Mar 12. PMID: 36918146.
Nicotra D, Arieli R, Redlich N, Navot-Mintzer D, Constantini NW. Iron Deficiency and Anemia in Male and Female Adolescent Athletes Who Engage in Ball Games. J Clin Med. 2023 Jan 27;12(3):970. doi: 10.3390/jcm12030970. PMID: 36769618; PMCID: PMC9918288.
Chang VC, Cotterchio M, Kotsopoulos J, Bondy SJ. Iron Status and Associated Factors among Canadian Women: Results from the Canadian Health Measures Survey. J Nutr. 2023 Mar;153(3):781-797. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2022.10.011. Epub 2022 Dec 20. PMID: 36788041.
National Institute of Health (2022, March 22). Iron-Deficiency Anemia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood. Retrieved August 14, 2023, from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/anemia/iron-deficiency-anemia#:~:text=It%20often%20takes%20three%20to,%2C%20constipation%2C%20or%20upset%20stomach
Iron Deficiency Anemia. HealthLink BC. November 29, 2021. https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthy-eating-physical-activity/conditions/anemia/iron-deficiency-anemia
Iron Deficiency – Diagnosis and Management. Government of British Columbia. April 17, 2019. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/bc-guidelines/iron-deficiency#signs-symptoms
Leung W, Singh I, McWilliams S et al. Iron deficiency and sleep – A scoping review. Sleep Med Rev. 2020 Jun;51:101274. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2020.101274. Epub 2020 Feb 8. PMID: 32224451. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32224451/
Lee HS, Chao HH, Huang WT et al. Psychiatric disorders risk in patients with iron deficiency anemia and association with iron supplementation medications: a nationwide database analysis. BMC Psychiatry 20, 216 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02621-0. https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-020-02621-0
Georgieff MK. Iron deficiency in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Oct;223(4):516-524. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.03.006. Epub 2020 Mar 14. PMID: 32184147; PMCID: PMC7492370.
Health Canada, Canadian Nutrient File, 2015. Food code: 6172 (beef, composite cuts, steak/roast, lean and fat, cooked. Nutrient amounts rounded as per 2016 CFIA labelling rounding rules. % Daily Values calculated based on Health Canada’s 2016 Nutrition Labelling – Table of Daily Values.
Canadian Pediatric Society (n.d.). Iron-deficiency anemia in children. Canadian Pediatric Surveillance Program. Retrieved August 14, 2023, from https://cpsp.cps.ca/surveillance/study-etude/severe-iron-deficiency-anemia-in-infants-and-young-children

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