Iron
Iron is a mineral that produces oxygen combined hemoglobin, a protein that is responsible for transporting the oxygen reaching our lungs to all body cells. It is also an essential component of collagen, a protein found in bones, cartilage and connective tissues. Besides being present in many enzymes in our body, iron is an important component of myoglobin, another protein that plays a key role in transporting oxygen to the muscles.
Iron intake during pregnancy is very important because a large portion of that amount is used by the mother to increase the amount of blood in 50% and the rest of iron is used by the fetus and placenta to develop. To meet this requirement the mother has two mechanisms. On the one hand can increase the volume of iron in the diet and on the other side can use their own reserves.
Generally a mother who comes to pregnancy in ideal conditions, ie with adequate iron stores without eating and supplements during pregnancy, pregnancy ends having consumed all their reserves. But in most cases the situation is not ideal, that is deficient in iron and anemia in these cases will likely be a common denominator during pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimesters.
The nutritional anemias are most common during pregnancy. The iron deficiency anemia (iron deficiency anemia) represents 75% of all diagnosed and its cause is primarily due to the need to increase iron intake.
The source of higher content of iron include red meat, chicken and fish, and the liver which has the highest concentration. Also found in egg yolks, legumes, vegetables and grains such as lentils, nuts, kale, spinach and tomato, but a kind of iron that is not very good absorption and a lesser amount. It is therefore essential for all supplement vegan diet drug.
For the iron in these foods are absorbed by the body properly requires the presence of vitamin C, so we recommend that accompany these meals with fresh orange juice freshly squeezed.
Unlike vitamin C, caffeine-containing products interfere and decrease iron absorption, and in this case it is recommended not to eat tea, coffee or chocolate with main meals.
