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Iron is a mineral that is very important in the development of red blood cells. An idealdiet should have the daily recommended amount of iron. People who are deficient in this mineral will usually become anaemic. It is consequently crucialthat iron be added to any diet. Iron may be discovered in foods which will include dried beans, dried fruits, liver, lean meat especially beef, salmon, whole grains and tuna. However if you have a particular aversion to eating iron rich foods you may choose to take iron supplements.

These supplements are often given as an oral dosage. This is taken no more than once daily. You will need to take these supplements as a regular part of your diet. In severe cases iron may have to be injected into the individual who cannot take the supplement orally.

When using these supplements there may be some side effects. You may experience some abdominal discomfort when taking iron supplements. Also, you may have some diarrhoea or constipation. To avoid constipation when consuming this type of supplement it is recommended that you eat adequate amounts of fibre. Your stool will also be discoloured, most notably it will be black in colour.

The amount of iron required per day has been outlined by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. The amount of iron needed by a person will depend on age, gender, and physical condition (i.E. Pregnancy). When you have deduced the right amount for intake then you can go ahead and begin supplementation. Many of these supplements can be discovered over the counter hence you do not necessarily need to visit your doctor before starting to take a course of iron supplements. All of these supplements will display the needed dosage based on the RDA (recommended daily intake). The following list displays the recommended daily intake of iron based on specific factors such as age, gender and physical condition.

Children who are between the ages of 7 to 12 months will need to take 11 mg of iron daily regardless of gender.
Children who are between the ages of 1 to 3 years old should take 7 mg per day regardless of gender.
Children who are between the ages of 4 to 8 years old will need to consume 10 mg daily regardless of gender.
Children who are between the ages of 9 to 13 years old will need to take 8 mg daily regardless of gender.
Teenagers who are between the ages of 14 to 18 years old will need to take 11 mg for males per day and 15 mg for females daily.
Adults who are between the ages of 19 to 50 years old should consume 8 mg for males per day and 18 mg for females daily.
Adults who are above the age of 50 will need to consume 8 mg per day regardless of gender.
For pregnant women the recommended dosage of iron is 27 mg daily.
For lactating mothers the recommended dosage of iron is 9-10 mg daily