It is recommended that females have 18mg of iron, and males only 10mg of iron a day.
Menstrating women lose iron when they have their monthly period. Iron is present in the blood, and blood is what is lost during that period. It is also recommended that you have increased iron in your diet if you are a regular blood donor, male or female. However, if a menstrating (meaning, of the age of menstrating, not necessarily currently menstrating) women is ALSO giving blood (monthly), she should have even MORE iron in her diet than 18mg. A man who is regularly (monthly) donating blood will need approximately 18mg, but not as much iron as the menstrating and blood-donating female. Yet the blood-donating man would probably just as much iron as the NON-DONATING, but menstrating female.
Women should take in more iron in their diets because lots of iron is lost during their menstruations as iron is present in blood. Iron is required for the formation of haemoglobin in red blood cells. Haemoglobin carries oxygen around the body in red blood cells. Thus, it is important for women to take in more iron.
