Iron Intake

My Fitness Pal tracker says I need to have 100mg of Iron per day, but the CDC says someone my age needs in 18mg. Does anyone know the reason for such a huge gap? I was starting to feel bad that I was averaging 65mg per day!

http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/vitamins/iron.html#How much

Replies

  • czecher
    czecher Posts: 21
    Iron is one of those things I would get info from the doctor about. I would also eat it rather than supplement with pills. This is also an easy mineral to lose by drinking diuretics (tea/coffee).

    I'd follow the CDC before MFP, though.
  • metalvegan
    metalvegan Posts: 133 Member
    MFP says you need 100% not 100g. On most food labels, iron is given in percentage.
  • metalvegan
    metalvegan Posts: 133 Member
    Oh, and you SHOULD be concerned with getting only 65% of the RDA. Iron deficiency causes fatigue, anemia, etc. You don't want that! If you don't eat meat, you should be extra aware of how much iron you're eating!