If left unchecked, low iron levels can lead to iron deficiency anemia—a condition where you don’t have enough red blood cells to deliver oxygen to your body’s tissues. Women, children, vegetarians, and athletes are at the greatest risk, and recovery can take months. The biggest challenge with iron deficiency is the sneaky symptoms that easily go unnoticed.
Fatigue and weakness
When day-to-day activities, such as grocery shopping or walking the dog, become more tiring than usual and fatigue sets in easily, don’t overlook your iron levels! About 75 percent of the iron in your body is found in the hemoglobin and myoglobin responsible for keeping your muscles, organs, and other tissues oxygenated. When you don’t get enough dietary iron, or your body has trouble absorbing it, your strength and fitness are the first to suffer.