• Decrease in hemoglobin and/or red blood cells due to low iron content in the body
• Symptoms may include tiredness and shortness of breath
• Cause often the result of not eating enough food containing iron, loss of red blood cells or poor iron absorption
• Cannot be spread from person to person
• Affects males and females
• Can occur at any age but more common in women before menopause
• May be mild to severe depending on cause

GENERAL THERAPY

• Increase intake of iron rich foods, such as liver, eggs, whole-grain, beans, red meat, peas dried food, green leafy vegetables or iron-fortified foods
• Steaming vegetables to maintain the iron content
• Cooking can be done in iron pots
• Over-the-counter medicines (refer to manufacturer’s recommendations for dosage):
  • Multivitamin containing iron
  • Iron supplements: take with vitamin C or orange juice to increase absorption

PRECAUTIONS AND AVOIDANCES

• Avoid taking supplements:
  • Within 2 hours of antacids or tetracycline
  • With tea, coffee, chocolate, milk or other calcium or caffeine rich foods
  • With high-fiber foods: bran, whole grains, nuts, and raw green vegetables
• Do not give cow’s milk or goat’s milk to children under 12 months; children 1-5 years should drink limited amounts of these milks
• Supplements should be kept out of reach of children

SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IF

• If you are pregnant
• If you have nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion or diarrhea, seek help immediately