Iron is an essential mineral for you if you want to stay energized and healthy. It's a vital component of the protein hemoglobin, which transports oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Gentle Iron by Solgar is natural, and plant-based with no harsh side effects. It's also gluten free and contains vitamin C to enhance the absorption of iron.

About this product

Iron is a trace mineral vital for maintaining a decent hemoglobin level, strong immunity, and healthy growth. But our bodies fail to get all the iron from our meals — that's the most common reason why so many people (almost 25% worldwide) have iron deficiency. Low iron levels are linked to overall weakness, impaired brain performance, low immunity, and poor concentration. If you lack iron, you'll find it hard to exercise and work efficiently, face constant headaches and migraines.

Iron has two critical functions in your body:

• It’s crucial for building red blood cells and releasing oxygen around your body.
• Red blood cells release hemoglobin into the bloodstream with anions dissolved in it.

These anions help carry out excess carbon dioxide (produced in tissue respiration) before building up in the bloodstream. The result is a non-acidic environment for efficient cell metabolism.

What does the research say?

Iron helps you avoid anemia, possibly boosting your endurance by 45%

According to scientists, as an oxygen "carrier," iron is a vital mineral in your body. They claim this mineral deficiency causes a low level of hemoglobin. It leads to a severe blood disorder called anemia, which may strongly impair your daily performance. During anemia, you're low on energy, have sudden attacks of weakness, and constant tiredness, making it hard for you to focus and think clearly.

Meanwhile, iron may help maintain your muscles' function — it supplies them with the necessary oxygen to contract. At the same time, iron-related anemia can reduce your endurance by more than 45%. Therefore, taking iron supplements in some cases may help you boost energy levels.

Source: The Journal of Nutrition: Iron Deficiency and Reduced Work Capacity: A Critical Review of the Research to Determine a Causal Relationship

Iron can relieve irritability, headaches and enhance your focus

Scientists claim that a lack of iron in your blood can affect your cognitive performance no matter how much sleep or which food you get. Iron-related anemia can disturb your focus, causes headaches, and makes you easily irritable. With sufficient iron levels in the blood, you may find it easier to perform cognitive tasks that include spatial processing or reasoning. It may happen due to the high content of oxygen in your brain, which enhances its performance.

Source: National Institutes of Health: Iron Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets

Iron may help you sleep better and lower your risks of getting insomnia

Have troubles falling asleep at night? Then consider adding iron to your daily supplementation! A study proves iron deficiency causes insomnia and sleep disturbances, so you may get enough sleep without medications by taking iron supplements. Meanwhile, anemia contributes to anxiety and depression symptoms, which are also related to insomnia.

Source: Chinese Medical Journal: Anemia and insomnia: a cross-sectional study and meta-analysis

Iron may improve your brain productivity & cognitive performance

Are you ready to get the most out of your every work hour? Iron has always been a vital part of the human body that helps support brain function and even makes it more agile. Iron supplementation can improve your brain ability in many ways, including enhanced memory function and healthy blood flow regulation within various brain parts. It's a well-researched mineral that has shown promise in improving cognition, attention span, motivation, and creativity.

Scientists discuss iron in numerous ways, mainly in terms of physical health. It generally helps deal with highly demanding tasks like problem-solving or thought planning - skills critical for modern life. Iron also boosts cognitive performance as its consumers feel more focused and alert when supplementing their bodies with this mineral. However, working memory or neurotrophin can also be improved with iron supplementation.

Source: NutraIngredients USA: Levels of iron in brain linked to better cognitive function

Iron supports your immunity

Iron is vital to your immune system since it enables you to battle diseases and fights trouble caused by toxins in the body. Supporting your body's iron levels on a decent level is a meaningful way to protect your immunity from a variety of different diseases. However, sustained effects require long-term commitments.

Besides, the World Health Organization recognizes iron as an essential factor in general physical, mental and emotional health. The science behind this mineral is that it triggers intravenous iron release fibers that hold blood vessels wide open. Then it increases hemoglobin as it enters the bloodstream in response to inflammation. So iron supplements ensure your body stays fit, healthy, and safe.

Source: National Library of Science: Iron and immunity: immunological consequences of iron deficiency and overload

Iron supports your bone & skin health

According to the Tufts University Health & Nutrition letter on the benefits of iron, it helps produce collagen, an integral component of bone and skin. Collagen provides your hair, bone, teeth, and tendons with structure, support, and strength. It is one of the significant proteins which acts as a structural material for most parts of your body. Iron also supplies these types of connective tissues with oxygen and necessary nutrients.

What matters is that you cannot create collagen without iron as a catalyst. So people with inadequate iron content in their bodies are at risk of developing a range of medical and functional disabilities. Studies show that most people with a lack of iron in their diets can develop the following:

1. Osteoporosis - is a disease that leads to increased bone injuries.
2. Skin issues - which turn out to be primarily responsible for worsening acne and dermatitis.

Despite your age and diet preferences, there is a convenient solution available to help ensure strong bones and healthy skin: iron supplements! They are essential in supporting your body's ability to produce collagen, supporting connective tissue alongside calcium.

Source: EurekAlert!: Highlights of Tufts University nutrition research: January 2004

Iron contributes to the health of your thyroid gland

If you're worried about your thyroid health, then you should know that iron is essential for its normal functioning. Doctors even recommend iron supplements to help treat hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland in your neck produces an important hormone that helps regulate your metabolism - T3. This hormone comes from T4, which converts into T3 as part of the process in the thyroid cells. Suppose you don't have enough of this mineral in your diet and don't supplement with iron regularly. In that case, you may lack enough iron for optimal thyroid function.

Iron deficiency can lead to an underactive thyroid which can cause a range of bodily symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, weight gain, lack of energy, and weight loss. A study found that supplementing with iron helped balance out these mineral levels in the body, contributing to a healthier thyroid function.

Source: National Library of Medicine: Effect of iron supplementation on thyroid hormone levels and resting metabolic rate in two college female athletes: a case study