Question

5. Tim went to the doctor complaining of always being tired despite getting 8 hours of sleep every night. Blood work reveals he has small, pale red blood cells. What mineral is he deficient in? What foods are reliable sources of this mineral? How can he assure he absorbs the greatest amount of this mineral?

Answer 1

In the above case scenario Tim has deficiency of the mineral iron. This is so because iron is the mineral that is needed to make oxygen carrying protein called haemoglobin that is found in the red blood cells. In the absence orodeficiency of this mineral, iron deficiency anemia sets in which leads to smaller and paler red blood cells just like in Tim's case.

Reliable sources of iron include:

• Fish, poultry and meat.
• Beans , lentils, beans and green leafy vegetables such as spinach.
• Nuts and seeds.

In order to ensure that his body absorbs greatest amount of iron, for non heme iron add vitamin c with it. For example sprinkling lemon with spinach. Eating fortified grains would also take care of the same.