Why is iron so crucial to our bodies? “We need adequate iron to produce hemoglobin and myoglobin, an essential part of red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body,” says Julie Stefanski, RDN, registered dietitian nutritionist and Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics.
Stefanski says low levels of the mineral can leave you feeling physically tired and weak, impair brain function, and weaken the immune system which hinders the ability to fend off colds and other illnesses. Anemia is a condition resulting from an inefficient number of red blood cells. For those who like to work up a sweat, optimal levels of hemoglobin are important for endurance.
