I‘m a teenage girl and I‘m almost positive I have an iron deficiency, or anemia, or whatever.I get tired all the time, I‘m unusually pale, I have trouble walking a flight of stairs (I‘m not obese, my weight is normal for my height), and I can sleep for 10 hours but wake up as tired as I was before.How many milligrams of iron should I take? I heard if you take too many it can lead to death. and should I consult a doctor before doing so?
if you are going to take tablets, then of coarse you need to consult your doctor. but before you do this you might think about how you are eating. not eating enough or extreme dieting can cause this (that's what happened to me). if i were you i would try eating more red meat before you decide you are going to take the tablets. this is a safer more natural way of getting the iron you need (as long as you don't eat to much of it). red meat is loaded with iron and girls need more iron than men because they menstruate (same goes for calcium). you lose a lot of iron and calcium when you bleed. Hope this helps! Please pick me for best answer!
Iron deficiency is the most common mineral deficiency in women. The best source of iron is obtained from eating meats (Heme-Iron sources). Vitamin C also helps with absorbing Iron especially if you don't eat much meat and get your iron from other foods (Non-Heme Iron). Then your last option would be an iron supplement, but that is never the most effective to get any vitamins or minerals. Here is website with some good iron sources and more information. You should consult your doctor if don't feel better. www.mckinley.illinois.edu/Handouts/dietary_sources_iron.html
