Women, Beware: The Surprising Iron Deficiency Sign You Might Miss

Apparently, if you suddenly find yourself really wanting to eat ice, dirt or even clay, there may be a medical reason for it. By the way, if you're craving the smell of rubber, cleaning products, or other things that you probably shouldn't be sniffing, that can be another unusual sign of this deficiency. Until writing this article, I had no idea any of that was a thing. Apparently a lack of iron in the body, often called anemia, can do just that in people.

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Now let me put this out there, iron deficiency wasn't really on my article radar until recently, when it suddenly became a topic of conversation in my own household. My daughter went to donate blood for the first time; a noble cause. Only she didn't give blood. She was told she couldn't donate because her iron level was too low.

That got my attention. I mean obviously that's not good, but what does it really mean? I then thought back and remembered my wife was found to be anemic during one of her pregnancies. So naturally, I started wondering: is low iron really that common? As it turns out, the answer is yes, but not for everyone.

Credit: Unsplash | Iron's not just for pumping... it's for eating, too!

Iron deficiency is fairly common among women, particularly those of reproductive age. Menstruation can contribute to iron loss, while pregnancy increases the body's need for iron because blood volume rises and the developing baby also needs iron.

According to the CDC, about 18% of U.S. women ages 12 to 49 had iron deficiency from 2021 to 2023. Additionally, the NIH estimates that roughly 10% to 16% of pregnant women in the United States have iron deficiency, with the rate reaching about 25% during the third trimester. Some of the more common symptoms associated with iron deficiency anemia include:

• Fatigue or feeling unusually tired
• Weakness
• Headaches or dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Pale skin
• Cold hands and feet
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Brittle nails
• Hair loss
• A sore or swollen tongue
• Craving and eating nonfood items, such as ice, dirt or clay

That last one the list, which I mentioned at the start of the article, is known as pica. It's the condition of craving nonfood items. In fact, ice cravings can sometimes be associated with iron deficiency.

Credit: Unsplash / Alex Padurariu

So now you're saying, "Tom I have all those symptoms. What do I do?" It could be an easy fix. Your body needs iron and vitamin C. That's at least a good place to start. Iron-rich foods include beef, pork, lamb, poultry, and seafood. If you're not much of a meat eater, there are plenty of plant-based options too. Things like beans, peas, lentils, spinach, and other dark green leafy vegetables. Dried fruits such as raisins and apricots can also provide iron. Also, lots of items are now iron fortified; things like cereals, breads, and pastas now have iron added.

Credit: Unsplash / Apostolos Vamvouras

There is another body trick that can help. Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron, so pairing iron-rich foods with foods high in vitamin C can be a smart move. Think spinach with tomatoes, beans with peppers, or a meal that includes broccoli and leafy greens, or enjoy a glass of orange juice alongside your meal.

Of course, food is only part of the picture. Iron deficiency can have several different causes, and sometimes changing your diet isn't enough. A doctor can help determine whether you're actually deficient, what might be causing it, and possible solutions.

So, what started with my daughter being turned away from a blood donation turned into a little education for me. And apparently, if someone in your family starts craving ice by the bowlful, there may be more to the story than simply having a strange love for chewing ice.