Iron deficiency and iron overload, and why you don't want either

We all need iron, it's one of the essentials of life. But we need more or less depending on things like our age, our sex, and any number of other individual factors. But like many things the scary part about iron is that it is possible to get too much of a good thing. Iron is needed in the body in just the right amounts, as symptoms of deficiency and overload are often the same (both can cause heart disease and both can cause pre-term labor).

As a general rule women and children need more iron than men, but you really need to talk with your doctor about what your particular needs are. Some signs of low iron levels, which can lead to anemia if left untreated, are fatigue, cold hands and feet, and restless legs. See more symptoms here, plus some general guidelines on how much iron different people need.