Iron and Exercise

I found this article from livestrong.com to be interesting and thought I'd share the link:
Some of the links to articles to the right about iron seem pretty cool too.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/478753-iron-status-exercise-in-humans/

This is pretty important as low iron really impacts our ability to run, especially longer distances. Just be sure to get your doctor to order an iron blood count test before starting any supplements.

I have first hand experience with low iron stores (serum ferritin) and have mine tested regularly. I take the iron supplement bifera which does not cause stomach issues, and I have taken iron on and off for over 20 years due to this issue. I lose a lot of iron when I sweat and well, women tend to lose it monthly as well.

I do have several male running friends who have also found themselves low in iron and were pretty surprised to find out it's impact.

I have been taken 100% vegetarian Liquid Iron which is a food base product. So it uses only what you need (supposedly). Being a vegetarian and with the miles I find if I stop taking it for sometime I get sluggish. I take about 5-10ml every day or so depending on my diet that day. If I eat a lot of green veggies that day I skip it.

I thought this is not a problem for Americans who like to eat steak and Chinese who uses iron wok.

Case closed.

This is a chronic issue for me and I also have my iron checked regularly.

I wasn't aware that iron goes away in sweat. I finally learned something today.