Steak is a great source of iron
Lack of understanding of the importance of iron in the diet could be endangering the health of women and hindering the education performance of their children according to research.
Whilst fifty per cent of women believe they’re getting enough iron, clinical research shows that the diets of more than 90 per cent of women consume less than the recommended intake of iron.
The research, conducted by YouGov on behalf of MeatMatters, looked at the levels of knowledge of iron in the diet and the impact of iron deficiency amongst women.
TV Doctor and Health Campaigner Dr Christian Jessen who is supporting the initiative said: “The high rate of iron deficiency amongst women in a developed country like the UK is a real concern. Equally shocking is the low level of awareness of the risks. For women, the side effects are subtle and can creep up you – you can end up feeling tired, lethargic with no get up and go. In severe cases, your hair can fall out and your nails will become dry and flaky."
A recent poll indicated that a further 31 per cent of women simply didn’t know whether they were getting enough iron in their diet. And, while two-thirds of the women polled knew that pregnant women were at risk of iron deficiency, only 39 per cent correctly identified all women of childbearing age as a high risk group.
A lack of Iron can lead to Iron deficiency anaemia. This is when the body has a reduced number of red blood cells and cannot transport enough oxygen around the body with many detrimental health effects including fatigue and impaired development in babies and young children.
Dr Jessen continues: "Following a healthy, balanced diet that’s rich in iron, vitamins and other minerals is by far the best solution for your health in the long term. Red meat can play a valuable role in this as it is a good source of iron and it’s encouraging to see that most women recognize this. We now want to raise awareness of the risks of not getting enough iron. ”
The report was commissioned as part of MeatMATTERS’ campaign to raise awareness of iron deficiency and the important role red meat can play in providing iron in the diet.
The National Diet and Nutrition Survey found that 25 per cent of women in the UK suffer from dangerously low intakes of iron, while up to up to 27 per cent of teenage girls and 13 per cent of teenage boys have low iron stores.
Nutritionist Amanda Ursell said: “Red meat such as beef, lamb and pork have a high nutrient density. This means that it contains a wide variety of nutrients in a relatively small amount of food – it’s a major source of protein, B vitamins and minerals such as iron and zinc. The body needs iron to transport oxygen in the blood. Not having enough iron from the foods you eat can leave you lacking in this vital nutrient, which means that it is more difficult for your body to get oxygen to the places it’s needed most. This can result in side effects such as tiredness, pale skin and sometimes shortness of breath.”
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