When you think about getting enough of the minerals your body needs, your mind probably heads right to electrolytes like potassium, calcium, or magnesium. But there’s one you might be overlooking: iron. And that can be a big problem, since lots of us are lacking that all-important mineral. About 30% of people under the age of 50 who menstruate are anemic, according to the World Health Organization—and one of the most common causes of it is not having enough iron.
What happens if you aren’t getting enough iron? If you’re not eating enough iron, you’re losing too much, or your body simply isn’t absorbing it well, your body won’t be able to make enough hemoglobin, and iron deficiency anemia can set in. At first, when the deficiency is mild, you might not really know anything’s wrong, but as it worsens, symptoms can set in. Symptoms like fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and breathlessness are common, says Dr. Powers.