Why do Women Need More Iron?

An active, menstruating woman should eat at least eighteen milligrams of iron daily. This is easier advised than done. A well-balanced diet supplies around six milligrams of iron for every thousand calories. Yet, women usually eat about 2,000 calories, which amounts to around twelve milligrams of iron a day. Add to this diminished iron intake the fact that women eat more fruits and vegetables (which contain poorly absorbed iron) and are generally not big meat eaters. This is why many women are anemic or borderline anemic without even knowing it. It would be wise for women to have not only a hemoglobin level done yearly, but also a serum ferritin test "ferritin test" -->to check their total iron stores.