Teenagers

During puberty iron requirements are increased to cater for rapid growth, the loss of iron due to menstruation in teenage girls and considerable gains in bones and muscles in teenage boys. Teenagers’ diets should promote good health but unfortunately it's during this particular time that our youngsters develop real independence including making their own decisions about what to eat and when.

Snacking and fast foods often craved by teenagers do not provide enough iron for those years of physical, mental and emotional change.

Especially at risk are teenage girls who often undertake extreme dieting and exercise regimes. They often have a hectic lifestyle, feel pressurised by school commitments and spend lots of time out and about missing family dinners and weekend lunches. The recent trend of becoming a vegetarian also contributes to an increasing number of iron deficient teenage girls in the UK. The vegetarian diet consumed within this age group consists mainly of processed foods that lack vital nutrients including iron.

The symptoms of iron deficiency are harder to spot in teenagers than in adults. If the iron deficiency is mild there might be no symptoms at all or they might be dismissed as a viral infection such as flu or the fact that teenagers are often moody and lethargic.

If your teenage daughter or son show any of the symptoms of iron deficiency ensure you consult your doctor.

Spatone, 100% natural liquid iron supplement can help with iron deficiency effectively without causing the side effects often associated with conventional iron supplements.