Iron

Iron is s silvery soft metal. Iron mineral is a metal extracted from iron ore and is almost never found in a free and pure state. Iron is the main component of steel and is also used in production of alloys and other metallic products.

For the human body iron is an essential trace element. It is used by almost all living beings on earth. Iron participates in the catalysis of oxidation reactions and is essential in the blood for transport of hemoglobin.

Irons high strength properties and actually very low production cost make it very important for the industry worldwide. It is essential in structural building and still the major element used for ships and lots of parts of automobiles. Other iron metal forms you can encounter in everyday life are cast iron, carbon steel, wrought iron, steel alloys as well as iron oxides. One major problem of iron is the reaction of iron with air, better oxygen. It rusts and needs to be protected in some way or another.

Iron rich food is especially important to replenish the amounts needed by our bodies. A small list of iron rich foods includes red meats, poultry, fish, lentils, beans, and green leafy vegetables. Other foods high in iron are tofu, chickpeas, potatoes, whole grains, molasses and farina. Iron can even be found in cereal, at least if it is a whole grain version or an enriched cereal. For easy absorption in the body high iron food like meat is recommended since the iron in meat is better absorbed than the iron in vegetables.

If iron rich foods cannot be included easily in the daily diet there are always iron supplements available. Infants that are not breast-fed will need iron supplements to replenish their needs. Since the iron usually enters the mothers body through foods rich in iron and then passes through the milk to the infant this link is broken by not breastfeeding. Nowadays all commonly available infant formulas are rich in iron. Another group at risk of low iron levels are blood donors and often are advised to take an iron supplement.

Iron deficiency usually comes from below than normal intake of iron and gradually worsens over time. An advanced state of iron deficiency is iron deficiency anemia. Blood hemoglobin levels are way below normal in this type of anemia.

Signs of iron deficiency anemia include tiredness, weakness, low performance, slow cognitive and social development in childhood, body temperate issues, and decreased immune functions.

Iron in water is usually not a problem health wise, but taste wise since a metal taste in water is surely not what the average consumer expects from their drinking water.