Food choices can help you address a deficiency that causes headaches and fatigue

Approximately 20% of women of childbearing age are iron deficient, with women aged 18 to 29 being most susceptible.

The World Health Organization states that ferritin levels in adults are considered low if they are less than 15 g/L. If your ferritin levels are at or below this threshold, you may have dangerously low ferritin levels, also known as anemia.

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What exactly is ferritin?

Ferritin is a protein that stores about a quarter of the total iron in your body and releases it when needed. Optimal ferritin levels ensure your body has the right amount of iron to keep you healthy.

Up to 20% of menstruating women are iron deficient and up to 5% are anaemic due to menstrual blood loss. Women of childbearing age are at greater risk of iron deficiency than postmenopausal women, as they lose an average of 30-40 ml of iron-rich blood during each menstrual cycle.

Women aged 18 to 29 were most likely to be iron deficient, with ferritin levels dropping up to 27% below normal, followed closely by people aged 30 to 39, whose ferritin levels were 20% below average.

Watch out for warning signs, such as:

How does food affect?

For meat eaters, red meat provides a rich source of iron. However, vegetarians and vegans can still maintain healthy iron levels through careful dietary choices. For example, combining iron-rich plant foods with vitamin C can improve absorption, he writes. Express.