When it comes to iron, men and women have different requirements. Adult men need around 8 mg of iron per day while for pre-menopausal adult women this increases to 18 mg per day. But why is that? Well there are two main reasons and both relate to the female reproductive system, as this article will explain.

1. Women lose iron during menstruation

Iron is a crucial component of the hemoglobin in our blood, and without it our bodies’ abilities to circulate oxygen would be severely diminished. As up to 96% of our blood is comprised of hemoglobin, this naturally means that women will lose a lot of that iron during menstruation. This also explains why post-menopausal women need only the same amount of iron as men to stay healthy.

2. Carrying a baby can mean you need more iron

Babies need iron to support their development and growth, and this is dependent on the mother’s iron intake. In fact, the mother’s intake also ensures that the baby is born with adequate iron stores for the first six months of life.

Learn more about the importance of iron during pregnancy.