{"id":103831,"date":"2021-03-30T11:54:38","date_gmt":"2021-03-30T15:54:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.oviahealth.com\/guide\/103831\/parenting-fix-iron-deficiency-anemia\/"},"modified":"2025-01-06T16:33:59","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T21:33:59","slug":"parenting-fix-iron-deficiency-anemia","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/103831\/parenting-fix-iron-deficiency-anemia\/","title":{"rendered":"Foods to fix iron-deficiency anemia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\"Jennifer<\/strong>\n

Jennifer Heinen, MS, RDN, LDN Founder, Nourish for Life<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

If you have been told that you have low iron stores or are anemic<\/a>, you are not alone. Iron deficiency anemia is the world\u2019s most common nutritional deficiency, and the WHO estimates that anemia affects 29.4% of people of childbearing age globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diet changes that can help with anemia or iron deficiency<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although it is not clear how iron deficiency may affect fertility, a few studies have suggested that your chances of becoming pregnant may increase if you improve your iron status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why is your iron status important for TTC? Starting out your pregnancy with low iron can increase the risk of pregnancy anemia, which may lead to preterm labor, low birth weight, and infant mortality. In addition, during pregnancy you need more iron due to an increase in your blood volume, which provides oxygen to you and your baby. Although this may seem worrying, the good news is that there are many ways to improve your iron by consuming iron-rich foods in your diet!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two different kinds of iron in foods: heme and non-heme. Heme iron comes mainly from animal proteins, while non-heme iron can be found in plant-based foods. Heme iron is more easily absorbed by the body, which is why vegetarians may need even more iron than meat-eaters. Below are a list of iron-rich foods:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heme:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n