Overweight and Iron Deficiency

By Yun Brown, LAc

Oriental Medical Clinic

. http://www.omrh.net/

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Overweight and Iron Deficiency

We all know about that iron deficiency can lead to anemia, however new research suggests that up to 50% of healthy young women may have an iron deficiency, but not always to the point of anemia. This research finds that young,overweightwomen are at risk ofironand zincdeficiency, and an inflammation condition.

Current medical research suggests thatirondeficiencyis a frequent finding in more progressed stages of obesity. Iron plays a part in many imperative biochemical pathways and enzyme systems including those involved with energy metabolism, neurotransmitter production (serotonin and dopamine), collagen formation and immune system function. An iron shortage leads to a reduction in hemoglobin, the iron-based protein in red blood cells that lets these cells pick up oxygen in the lungs and release it in tissue where oxygen is low. If there is a shortage of iron, the red blood cells can't transport the oxygen you need, and the body's metabolism dysfunction leads to overweight.

Iron is mainly found in citrus fruits, tomatoes, beans, peas, fortified bread and grain products such as cereal (non-heme iron sources). Beef, liver, organ meats and poultry comprise the heme iron sources. The heme iron sources are more absorbable than the non-heme type of iron. Iron is an essential mineral. It is a component of hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in the blood, and myoglobin, another protein that carries oxygen in muscle tissue.

We encourage every one to eat more iron-containing foods, however, the large amount of iron used to correct anemia is not available through food. Acupuncture therapy may help the digestion disorder, improve iron absorption, and recover from iron deficiency. This can in turn support weight loss.