Too little iron and your body struggles to form new red blood cells. This can lead to anaemia making people feel tired, irritable and less able to concentrate. In children, it can affect behaviour and development. Foods rich in iron include red meat, leafy green vegetables, dried fruits, nuts and shellfish.
Too much iron is also a problem. The body stores iron and large amounts can be toxic resulting in fatigue, heart palpitations, joint pain, non-specific stomach pain, impotence, and loss of menstrual period. Iron overdose can be fatal so consult a doctor before taking iron supplements and store all medication out of reach of children.
High iron intake, including excessive exposure to iron ore dust, can be especially dangerous for people with an inherited disease called haemochromatosis, or iron overload. This longterm ailment affects one in 200 Australians and can cause liver cirrhosis, cancer, heart damage, arthritis and diabetes.
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