Functions of Iron
Iron (Fe) is an essential micro minerals that have important functions in the body. It takes a total consumption of about 1.5-2.2 mg per-day, iron has an important function in the body such as a transport medium for oxygen from the lungs to various body tissues and will also serve as a catalyst in the process from energy in cells. As a kind of micro-essential minerals, iron deficiency in the body can cause some negative impacts such as decreased immunity, decreased concentration, decreased memory, decreased learning performance, irritability, loss of appetite, and decreased physical fitness.
Atlet especially distance running athletes, vegetarian athletes, female athletes and athletes who consume meat less than 1 times per week had a risk of iron deficiency. Female athletes who have regular menstrual periods will have a risk of iron deficiency is higher when compared with male athletes. Once the athletes were also vegetarians compared with non-vegetarian athletes, although for this vegetarian athletes can be met through the selection of the consumption of vegetables or fruits that are appropriate. Especially for long-distance runners, tugs at the legs to run the hard surface can cause footstrike risk of hemolysis, namely rupture of red blood cells which is accompanied by the release of hemoglobin into blood plasma as a result of foot tugs on a hard surface. Continue reading