Where do heavy metals come from? All about anemia in pregnancy. The role of iron in the body Where does iron come from

Nutrition for the brain. An Effective Step-by-Step Technique for Improving Brain Efficiency and Strengthening Memory by Neil Barnard

Where do metals come from?

By now, you should have a fairly clear idea that toxic metals destroy one by one nerve cells your brain. Well, now it remains to find out where exactly they come from.

Let's start with your kitchen. What's under your sink? Making water pipes from copper became popular in the thirties of the last century. When, over time, copper pipes and brass connections begin to decompose from corrosion, copper particles enter the drinking water.

Do you use a cast iron skillet? Cast iron kitchen utensils add a significant amount of iron to food cooked on them. For a young girl with an iron need due to monthly iron loss during her period, this may be good, but other people are more likely to have an excess of iron in the body than a lack of it.

Now let's take a look inside your kitchen cabinet. Do you keep a vial of vitamins in it? Common vitamin-mineral complexes contain about two milligrams of copper per capsule - more than twice the recommended daily intake. The same story with zinc, and sometimes with iron.

We think we improve our health by taking a daily multivitamin, and in many ways, we are. It is an excellent source of vitamin B 12 and vitamin D, both of which are extremely important for the health of the body. However, the metals added to these complexes are superfluous, because you are already getting enough of them in your food. It is best to give preference to exclusively vitamin supplements that do not contain copper, zinc, iron or any other minerals. Or you can just take vitamin B on its own. We'll talk more about vitamins in Chapter 5.

In the fifties of the last century in the United States, Jeritol tonic was advertised on TV with might and main, offering it as a solution to the problem of people with a lack of iron in the blood. The advertisement said that "just one bottle of the drink contains twice as much iron as a pound of calf liver." Doctors also promoted iron-based supplements as an additional source of energy, believing that general weakness was a sign of anemia. It cannot be said that they fully coped with their duties: fatigue can be caused by a hundred different reasons, and iron deficiency is not even included in the top ten.

Now look at the packaging of your favorite breakfast cereal. For some reason, the manufacturer decided that iron and zinc are vital for you, and added daily intake to each serving. However, you have absolutely no need for these added metals and would be much better off without them. I have already sent a request to the offices of the most popular breakfast cereal manufacturers to limit supplementation to only vitamins and leave the minerals that most consumers already get in sufficient amounts from food alone.

So plumbing, kitchen utensils, nutritional supplements and breakfast cereal, all of which contribute to an overdose of metals that will definitely not make your brain feel better. However, we have not yet reached the largest source of these common minerals.

This text is an introductory piece.

Most often, water from the tap in an apartment or house cannot be drunk just like that, without purification. It may contain various impurities that, at a minimum, spoil the taste of water. In some cases, a harmful effect on the body is also possible (it can lead to problems with the gastrointestinal tract or other systems).

Often, water (even artesian) can have a metallic taste, the same smell and a reddish precipitate. In such cases, it is necessary to clean the water from iron from the well, which can be carried out in several ways.

Possible reasons for the increase in the concentration of iron in water:

If the soil contains deposits of sulfate ore or rocks of volcanic origin. In this case, even at a great depth of more than 50-60 m, the water may contain more than 100 mg/l.
If the soil is marshy. Swamp water may contain 1-5 ml/g of iron.
If there is an industrial facility nearby: metallurgical, chemical, petrochemical, and it discharges wastewater into local water bodies. In this case, metals from the reservoir can be absorbed into the soil and get into underground sources.
If the house has old rusty pipes (not relevant for wells, but for old high-rise buildings or for new buildings that are connected to the old water supply network).
If the pH balance is disturbed in the soil.

Types of iron-containing impurities

Water may contain the following types of iron-containing impurities:

divalent iron. Dissolved in water. Visually, a liquid with such an impurity may look normal (transparent, without noticeable sediment). At an increased concentration, a metallic taste will appear, and if you leave an open container with liquid to stand, the water will take on a reddish tint.
trivalent. Insoluble: small particles of a reddish hue are visible in water, even without settling. On standing, a reddish precipitate appears.
Bacterial metal (iron bacteria). A mixture hazardous to health and pipelines, which, in addition to iron, may contain mercury, cadmium, and lead. It looks like a slimy soft deposit that remains on the surface of the dishes. An oily film may form on the surface of the water when settling in an open container.

Why is it important to clean water from iron from a well?

Possible consequences:

skin problems (after bathing, there is a feeling of dryness, tightness, with prolonged exposure, dermatitis, allergies can develop);
problems with the liver and kidneys, which have to constantly remove excess iron from the body;
increased risk of heart attack;
increases the risk of developing cancer (primarily cancer of the colon, bladder and esophagus).

Permissible concentration

Sanitary norm in the Russian Federation: 0.3 mg/l, in Europe - 0.2 mg/l. Up to this concentration, water does not have an unpleasant odor or taste, it does not precipitate a metal precipitate, and does not harm health.

In water from wells, even deep ones, the metal concentration can range from 0.6 to 21 mg/l.

How to understand that the concentration of iron in the water is increased?

Signs by which you can determine the excess without analysis:

The taste of unboiled and unfiltered water has a metallic taste and smell. If the concentration exceeds 1.2 mg / l, the taste will be felt even in drinks (tea, coffee) and in boiled water.
On the plumbing (sink, toilet, bathroom, shower) there are reddish streaks, sometimes with sediment.

To more accurately identify the problem, you can:

Make a paid analysis. The approximate cost of a comprehensive analysis for the content of various impurities is 3000-3500 rubles.
Pour unboiled water into a glass and leave to stand overnight. If a reddish precipitate appears after 1-2 days, the iron concentration is exceeded.
Use an aquarist kit (costs about 1000-1200 rubles). It is used specifically for the determination of iron, according to the instructions.
Use potassium permanganate. If half a glass of potassium permanganate pour 2-3 tbsp. l. water, and the solution will turn dirty yellow - there is a lot of iron in the liquid, and you can’t drink it.
Use sulfosalicylic acid, ammonia and ammonia. The recipe is as follows: 1 ml of ammonia, 1 ml of sulfosalicylic acid and 1 ml of ammonia are taken. The reagents are poured into 25 ml (1 tablespoon) of water and stirred. If after 15 minutes the solution becomes yellowish, the concentration of the metal is increased.

Ways to purify water from iron

Since iron impurities in water are a common problem, a large number of solutions have been invented against them. effective ways cleaning. There are industrial cleaning methods, and devices for apartments and private houses.

Reverse osmosis

Most effective method removal of iron-containing impurities. Can remove ferrous and trivalent iron.

The flow of water passes through a fine-membrane membrane. The holes in the membrane are so large that only water molecules pass through. Due to the larger size, iron impurities cannot pass through the pores and remain on the grid, after which they merge through the drainage (the grid does not clog).

Flaw system is that the molecules of chlorine and some other chemical compounds are even smaller than the molecules of water. Therefore, reverse osmosis systems do not remove them, but let them through. Additional cleaning steps are required to remove them.

Ionic way

Filtration method that removes iron, manganese, calcium. The filter uses an ion exchange resin that replaces iron with sodium and softens the water.

Disadvantages and features:

the filter can only be used at metal concentrations up to 2 mg/l;
the filter can be used if the water hardness is above normal;
The filter can only be used for water that is free from organic matter.

Chemical method (oxidative)

The method is usually used only in industrial water treatment plants.

For cleaning, chlorine, oxygen, ozone and potassium permanganate are used. These oxidizers convert iron to trivalent iron, which is then precipitated and removed.

For apartments and houses there is a simplified filtration system - catalytic. Magnesium dioxide is used as a neutralizer, which oxidizes iron-containing impurities and accelerates their precipitation.

Removal of ferric iron

Most systems are designed to clean the liquid from ferrous iron.

Against trivalent impurities, ultrafiltration membranes with a cell size of 0.05 μm (micron) are used. The membrane retains impurities, which are then removed to the drain by backwashing.

Biological method of iron removal

Designed to remove iron bacteria. They are usually found in water at iron concentrations in the range of 10-30 mg/l, but may appear at lower levels.

To remove them, the water is treated:

chlorine or chelating agents;
bactericidal rays.

Reagent-free cleaning

The principle is based on the interaction of MnO2 with iron: during the reaction, an insoluble compound is formed that precipitates. For cleaning, filters with membranes containing manganese oxide are used. The membranes need to be cleaned periodically. The filters also have an auto-flush function that flushes accumulated particles down the drain.

Ozone cleaning

A generator set is used for filtering. Inside it, oxygen is cooled to +60º, dried, and enters the ozone generator. Then the resulting gas passes through the water stream, purifying it from iron and enriching it with oxygen.

Minus the method: such installations are expensive and not profitable for cleaning a large number water (because ozone decomposes quickly).

Aeration

The method is based on the effect of oxygen. Pressurized air is supplied to the water tank from the well.

Oxygen oxidizes ferrous iron, causing it to precipitate, which is then washed off into the drain.

Aeration systems are relevant at low iron concentrations (up to 10 mg/l).

Home cleaning without filters and installations

If you need to clean a small amount of water from iron (a bottle, for example), you can proceed according to the following scheme:

Let the water stand for at least 1 night. Impurities will settle to the bottom, after which the water will need to be filtered through a fine mesh.
Boil the strained water.
Freeze a container of boiled water.

After that, the water will get rid of most impurities and become more drinkable, even if it previously contained a high concentration of iron.

If additional purification is needed, activated charcoal can be used. It must be wrapped in cotton wool and used as a filter: pass water through it.

Filters using strong oxidizers

To clean water from iron for a private house, it is easiest to use filters. On sale there are installations with different principle work.

Catalytic iron removers

One of the most common water treatment methods for both industrial scale and small facilities (private houses, summer cottages, cottage settlements).

The units can have a capacity from 0.5 to 30 m³/h. There are also more powerful industrial cleaners.

The filter is made in a fiberglass or stainless steel housing. Inside, a bulk filter layer-catalyst is used.

The most common brands of catalysts:

BIRM.
green sand.
AMDX.
Quantum.
pyrolox.

The average cost of a household model is from 8000-8500 rubles. The catalyst layer needs periodic replacement. The average cost of 1 bag (BIRM brand) is about 3500 rubles.

Reverse osmosis filters

Reverse osmosis filters are complex water treatment plants of a compact size, which are often placed under sinks in both houses and apartments. In reverse osmosis devices, water is purified in several stages, successively passing through 3 containers:

Tank with activated carbon and polypropylene: purifies water from solid particles up to 0.5 microns in size.
Container with coal: filters organic and chemical impurities (metals, oil products), up to 1 micron in size.
Container with a membrane, cells with a size of 0.0001 microns.

After passing through all 3 tanks, the flow is divided into 2 separate ones: purified water and a concentrated solution of filtered impurities. Pure water is fed further into the water supply of the house, impurities are drained into the sewer.

The most common household filters of this type:

Atoll.
Aquaphor.
New water.
Osmo barrier.
Geyser Prestige.

The average cost of household models (enough for a house with a family of 3-5 people) is 7500-8000 rubles.

Filters using ion exchange resins

Ion exchange filters are arranged in the form of 2 containers made of plastic or steel. Each of them has a free space (top) and a part filled with reagents (bottom).

The advantages of such filters include:

high degree of purification;
quiet work;
rare replacement of the filter filler (may be required 1 time in 7-10 years).

Among the shortcomings is the relatively high cost: the cheapest filters will cost 17-22 thousand rubles. Also a disadvantage is low productivity: household models can filter up to 0.5 m³ / h on average.

Electromagnetic filters

In such devices, filtration takes place in several stages:

The flow is sonicated (to improve the efficiency of the next step);
Electromagnetic cleaning is carried out (iron compounds are retained by a magnet);
The purified stream passes through a mechanical fine-mesh filter, which retains the remaining solid impurities.

The cost of filters of this type starts from 10-12 thousand rubles. They should be used only in cases where the main impurity in the water is iron. If, in addition to iron, other unnecessary impurities are contained, it is better to use other types of filter systems.

Electrochemical aeration filters

Reagentless filters differ in design from the systems listed above. They consist of a compressor that pumps air and a container of water. Can be used with iron content up to 30 mg/l on average.

The cost of models with a minimum capacity (up to 1-3 m³ / h) starts from 25-28 thousand rubles. The average non-repair period of work is about 5-7 years.

Iron ore is a mineral formation of a natural nature, which has in its composition iron compounds accumulated in such a volume that is sufficient for its economic extraction. Of course, iron is present in all rocks. But iron ores are precisely those ferruginous compounds that are so rich in this substance that they allow the industrial extraction of metallic iron.

Types of iron ores and their main characteristics

All iron ores are very different in their mineral composition, the presence of harmful and beneficial impurities. The conditions of their formation and, finally, the content of iron.

The main materials that are classified as ore can be divided into several groups:

Iron oxides, which include hematite, martite, magnetite.
Iron hydroxides - hydrogoethite and goethite;
Silicates - thuringite and chamosite;
Carbonates - sideroplesite and siderite.

In industrial iron ores, iron is contained in various concentrations - from 16 to 72%. Useful impurities contained in iron ores include: Mn, Ni, Co, Mo, etc. There are also harmful impurities, which include: Zn, S, Pb, Cu, etc.

Iron ore deposits and mining technology

By genesis, existing iron ore deposits are divided into:

Endogenous. They can be igneous, which are inclusions of titanomagnetite ores. There may also be carbonatite inclusions. In addition, there are lenticular, sheet-like skarn-magnetite deposits, volcano-sedimentary sheet deposits, hydrothermal veins, as well as irregular shape ore bodies.
Exogenous. These mainly include brown-iron and siderite sedimentary reservoir deposits, as well as deposits of thuringite, chamosite and hydrogoethite ores.
Metamorphogenic - these are deposits of ferruginous quartzites.

The maximum volumes of ore mining are provoked by significant reserves and fall on Precambrian ferruginous quartzites. Sedimentary brown iron ores are less common.

When mining, rich and requiring enrichment of ores are distinguished. Mining industry iron ore, also carries out its preliminary processing: sorting, crushing and the aforementioned enrichment, as well as agglomeration. The ore mining industry is called the iron ore industry and is the raw material base for ferrous metallurgy.

Application industries

Iron ore is the main raw material for iron production. It enters the open-hearth or converter production, as well as for the reduction of iron. From iron, as you know, they produce a wide variety of products, as well as from cast iron. The following industries need these materials:

Mechanical engineering and metalworking;
Automotive industry;
Rocket industry;
military industry;
Food and light industry;
Building sector;
Extraction of oil and gas and their transportation.

The state of our health directly depends on vitamins and microelements, which in a certain amount must enter the body. Iron is one of the most essential micronutrients that are vital to our health. A deficiency of this trace element can lead to undesirable consequences in the form of anemia, etc., the substance is also called the "metal of life", but this is no accident. The most interesting thing is that the amount of this metal in the body of men and women is different, respectively, and the need to replenish it is also different.

In the male body is about two grams, while in the owners of the fair sex a little more than one and a half. This suggests that women need to replenish this microelement in greater quantities than men, because daily rate iron should be from 8 to 14 mg in both some and others. Where to "take" iron in order to meet the needs of the body? From the food we eat every day.

Where is the iron?

Iron, oddly enough, is responsible for very important processes in our body:

Its main function is to saturate the cells of the body with oxygen. After all, all cells, without exception, need a constant “feed” with oxygen. In the circulatory system, the role of the “distributor” is occupied by red blood cells, which contain a certain protein called hemoglobin, which is what contains iron.
This chemical element helps to generate energy. Almost all cells in our body burn calories in order to get energy in return. Iron is involved in the same process. With its lack in such a process, failures can occur, which, in turn, affect the general condition of the body in the form of muscle weakness and general fatigue.
Iron is involved in the formation of cells of the immune system, and, therefore, indirectly helps to strengthen our health and make it more resistant to various diseases.

Foods that contain this important micronutrient

What foods contain iron and how much? This is very important question, because having complete information, we can independently calculate how much we need to eat this or that product in order to replenish the norm of iron in our body.

So, foods containing iron:

All types of liver - calf (14 mg), pork (12 mg), chicken (9 mg), beef (5.8 mg).
Meat products - pigeon (7.5 mg), beef (3.1 mg), lamb (2.6 mg), turkey (1.6 mg), pork (1.8 mg).
Seafood - shellfish (27 mg), mussels (6.7 mg), oysters (5.4 mg), shrimp (1.7 mg), canned tuna (1.5 mg), fish (0.8 mg) .
Legumes - peas (7 mg), beans (5.8 mg), soybeans (5.2 mg), lentils (3.3 mg).
Vegetables - spinach (13.5 mg), corn (2.9 mg), cauliflower (1.6 mg), Chinese cabbage (1.3 mg), potatoes (0.9 mg).
Nuts – pistachios (60 mg), peanuts (5 mg), cashews (3.8 mg), pine nuts (3 mg).
Cereals - buckwheat (8.3 mg), barley (7.4 mg), oatmeal (5.5 mg), wheat (5.4 mg).
Dogwood - 4.1 mg.

as show clinical researches, many of the above foods contain iron, which is not absorbed by our body. As a result, this microelement is either not absorbed at all, or the percentage of its ingestion is so small that it is necessary to eat this or that product more and more in order to replenish the norm.

Therefore, for the absorption of iron, you should include in your menu products that "help" it be better absorbed. As a rule, these are those that contain vitamin C, lemon and folic acid, vitamin B12 and sorbitol. What products are we talking about?

All these "helpers" can be found in products such as:

tomatoes and freshly squeezed juice from them;
potatoes, sweet pepper;
ordinary white cabbage and broccoli;
oranges and freshly squeezed juice from them;
strawberries, grapefruits, kiwi, melon, mango;
White wine.

Anemia: external signs and methods of dealing with it

The amount of iron in the body can decrease not only due to a shortage of foods that contain this element, but also during operations, blood donation and menstruation in women. In general, in all those cases when there is profuse blood loss.

Many diets aimed at weight loss can also lead to iron deficiency, because most foods that are rich in this mineral are excluded from the menu.

It has been proven that iron loss is almost half as high during heavy physical exertion, so athletes are advised to introduce a lot of iron-containing foods into their diet to help fill the deficiency of this metal.

So, how about outward signs identify iron deficiency

a sharp decrease in appetite;
there is nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, pain in the head, dizziness and even fainting;
loose stools for a long time;
increased sensitivity to cold, irritability b;
nails and hair become brittle and brittle;
the skin becomes pale and tachycardia appears;
cracks appear on the lips;
disrupts the menstrual cycle;
the level of hemoglobin decreases, and, consequently, immunity decreases;
attention disorder.

All of these symptoms indicate that you need to see a doctor immediately for help. Do not self-medicate, because it can adversely affect your health.

Foods containing iron are not recommended to be included in your diet along with:

chocolate and red wine;
cool carbonated drinks, coffee and tea;
dairy products such as cheese, milk and yogurt;
egg yolk.

This is due to the fact that these products “prevent” iron from being fully absorbed by our body.

An excess of this useful metal is also dangerous.

Not taking into account the fact that iron is a very important trace element for our health, and products containing this substance must be present in our diet, it is still not recommended to abuse it, because its excess in the body is no less dangerous than its deficiency.

If you strongly “lean” on iron, then this threatens with arrhythmia and an increase in the liver. In addition, the skin with an excess of this element becomes yellowish, and age spots appear on it.

Just as with iron deficiency, people may experience low energy and dizziness.

According to studies, foods containing iron cannot provoke an oversaturation of this chemical element because the body itself controls the intensity of its absorption. But some medicines can lead to an excess of iron. Therefore, it is not advisable to use any medications that increase iron levels without first consulting a doctor.

Among other things, the cause of oversaturation with this substance can also be a hereditary predisposition to its accumulation. For people with this diagnosis, doctors recommend reducing foods containing iron to a minimum.

Importance of iron during pregnancy

How wonderful is this time when the expectant mother is waiting for the birth of her baby. However, for her, this process is not entirely smooth, or rather for her body. He begins to work in an enhanced mode, “trying” to accumulate a double dose of all the vitamins and microelements that are needed for full-fledged work not only for himself, but also for the unborn child. It is best if the expectant mother has almost the entire periodic table in her diet, with the exception, of course, of harmful elements.

Iron is one of the most important micronutrients during pregnancy. Because it enriches the blood of the mother, and, accordingly, the baby, with oxygen. A deficiency of this element can lead to anemia, which is not very good during pregnancy, because the fetus can form with certain deviations.

As a rule, during pregnancy, the daily intake of iron should be at least 30 mg, but you should not abuse it.

If we talk about food, then during pregnancy, doctors recommend introducing lentils, apples (preferably homemade, not purchased), buckwheat, dried fruits, cedar and walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts and beets.

As for dried fruits, it is better to harvest them yourself, because you cannot be 100% sure about the goods that you buy in the markets or in the store, perhaps the fruits from which this set was made were slightly spoiled or improperly dried, and it can be dangerous in pregnancy.

Seaweed is also an excellent source of iron, and besides, it contains a considerable amount of iodine, which is very important during pregnancy. This product is very easily absorbed by the body, and is also an excellent tool for caring for your beauty. Adding it to salads, side dishes, and just eating it as an individual dish, you will see that the skin will become fresher and healthier.

We wish you good health and happiness!

The question is often asked - what is the danger of anemia in a pregnant woman, think about it, a problem, half of the women suffer from nothing! However, in fact, this problem is serious both for the mother herself and for the developing baby. Many do not know what anemia is and where it comes from, and therefore do not treat it correctly and on time, in addition, they do not notice the changes associated with it and lose precious time because of this, when it could be cured with little effort. Let's take a closer look at the problem of anemia during pregnancy.

Where did the diagnosis come from
Anemia has been studied in detail by many, especially global studies held world organization health care, its data show that in different regions of Russia anemia is very widespread among expectant mothers, according to antenatal clinics and hospitals, from 20 to almost 80% of pregnant women suffer from it at different stages of pregnancy. There is a fairly simple explanation for this, during pregnancy, a woman’s need for iron increases sharply, as well as her baby, this is necessary to adequately provide oxygen to the body of the baby and the mother herself.

But only the nutrition of our modern future mothers often leaves much to be desired, even in the presence of breaking store shelves. Many modern products are refined, semi-finished and poor in minerals and vitamins, this is especially evident in urban women with a not very high income. They do not often buy normal meat, preferring quickly prepared and cheaper semi-finished products from supposedly "meat" - cutlets, sausages, sausages.

Anemia is also mistakenly called anemia, although the amount of blood in anemia does not change, the number of red blood cells in it, blood globules that carry oxygen, or the amount of pigment in them, hemoglobin, that binds and carries oxygen in the tissue, changes. At the same time, during the development of anemia in the peripheral blood, pathological forms of erythrocytes can also appear - small, defective, altered forms. Anemia can be suspected when hemoglobin drops to 110 g/l and below. But anemia is not only with iron deficiency, there may be anemia with other factors. But the dangers from it for the mother and child do not decrease.

The role of iron in the body.
Iron in the body is less than a teaspoon, only about 4 grams, but its importance for the life of the body cannot be overestimated, it is the dominant link in the hematopoietic system, that is, in the process of formation of red blood cells - red blood cells. But the role of iron is not limited to this, since it is part of several vitally important proteins of the human body that participate in the immune response and carry out an adequate metabolism. But in this article we will consider only the role of hemoglobin, since we are talking about anemia and its effect on the fetus and mother.

Hemoglobin consists of 4 chains of protein and iron “glued” to them like a plaque. This plaque of iron attaches oxygen molecules to itself and holds them like a magnet until hemoglobin reaches the tissues through small vessels, while it exchanges oxygen for carbon dioxide in tissues, carrying it through the vessels to the alveoli of the lungs and again changing it to oxygen. This happens continuously throughout the entire conscious life of an erythrocyte - and this is about 180 days. If the amount of hemoglobin and red blood cells decreases, fewer cells can carry oxygen and tissues begin to experience oxygen deficiency - with a mild degree of anemia, it is barely noticeable, well, who does not get tired in the evening? But with severe anemia, there are symptoms of dizziness and disorders of the heart.

Of course, the body does not sit idle - whenever possible, it accumulates iron and puts it in reserve, but there is not much of this iron in the body, it is very valuable for life. Therefore, an increased iron consumption initially develops, which prevails over its storage. This is manifested only at the biochemical level in a decrease in iron in the blood serum and a decrease in some indicators of iron metabolism. This condition is sometimes called sideropenia, latent or latent iron deficiency. It is present in 95% of women and 50-60% of men. This is especially pronounced in vegetarians, those who eat separately and children.

Iron is present in the composition of myoglobin, a muscle protein, with its deficiency, the muscles become weak, exhausted, their normal contraction and function are disturbed. In addition, iron is an oxidizing agent in metabolic processes, it directly takes an active part in the formation of an immune response to microbes and viruses, helps to form white blood cells and protective proteins lactoferrins, ferritin, and others. And iron is also involved in the exchange of vitamin D, the process of detoxification, the formation of skin collagen, which helps to make beautiful skin and preserve the walls of blood vessels.

Where does iron come from?
The body receives most of the iron from food, a little iron comes from the liquid, but only no more than 30% of iron is absorbed, but this depends on the health of the intestine, the state of its microbial flora or the state of the body. Absorption can be affected by calcium, folate deficiency and vitamin C, B vitamins. Iron is also lost daily in urine, feces, sweat and sloughing skin cells.

During pregnancy, the costs and losses of iron increase even more significantly, iron is actively used for additional volumes of blood and hemoglobin, for the growth of the uterus, for the needs of the placenta and fetus, and is stored in reserve in the body of the fetus for its needs in the first six months. In addition, hemoglobin is lost in the blood during childbirth and iron is actively consumed during breastfeeding. That is why it is so important that during pregnancy there is enough of it in the body of a woman, it comes with food or additionally, with the introduction of medicines.

In addition, you need to know that the absorption and assimilation of iron preparations in the body is a very complex process and not all iron in the diet can be absorbed equally well. The fact is that iron exists in two forms, trivalent, non-heme and divalent, heme. Heme iron undergoes better absorption, it requires less expenditure on the part of the body, and this is the iron of meat food and blood products. Plant iron is non-heme iron, it must first be converted into ferrous iron and then it will be absorbed - these are extra costs for the body.

This process takes place with the direct participation ascorbic acid for example, from fruits. Iron is very poorly absorbed from cereals, as they are rich in phytins, which disrupt the absorption of iron, and from foods rich in phosphorus for the same reason. The bulk of the body's iron can be reused - for example, red blood cells are destroyed in the spleen and there iron is extracted in a special way and given to create new cells. But part of the hemoglobin is still lost with body secretions, they need to be replenished.

How much iron do pregnant women need?
During pregnancy, the body's need for iron constantly increases at the end of the term, up to about 30 mg per day, which is due to the constantly growing baby and the needs of the female body and the growing fetus. It is due to iron that oxygen is transported to the tissues. In a pre-pregnant state, a woman needs one and a half milligrams of iron per day from the outside, in the first trimester its level doubles, in the second trimester it doubles, and in the third trimester, when the baby actively stores iron in tissues, then the needs increase to 5-8 mg gland.

At the same time, most of the iron goes to the formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin, about a third for the needs of the fetus and only the remaining for the needs of the woman and the placenta. The highest consumption begins from 16-22 weeks, when the fetus begins to form its own red blood cells and the baby begins to actively grow and develop. In addition, a lot of oxygen is required for metabolic processes, and therefore a special hemoglobin is formed - fetal, it is more saturated with iron and carries more oxygen than an ordinary adult.

Among other things, in last month During pregnancy, the fetus begins to actively store iron in the form of various compounds in its liver and other organs, so that later it can be used for the needs of the body until the baby grows up - this is about six months, the moment of introduction of complementary foods. Then he will be able to receive additional portions of iron with food. If the mother had anemia during pregnancy, the fetus has a much higher risk of developing anemia, he has nowhere to create hemoglobin, he has no reserves. Artificers are especially affected - iron from mixtures is poorly absorbed and there is no way to get it in an easily digestible form, like from breast milk.

During childbirth, there is a loss of about half a gram of iron, during lactation another third of a gram, so it is necessary to adequately replenish iron stores, since this is almost a third of all iron stores in the body. These iron reserves can be gradually restored only after four to five years of life and normal nutrition, therefore, if a subsequent pregnancy occurs earlier than this period, there will be a threat of anemia in the pregnant woman.

All about anemia, part 2.